BRISTOL.
– Yes, it is slippery! If it’s a wet field, it will come off like soap.
Joel Pohjanpalo while clapping his hands together to reinforce the image of a soapy ball. The new equipment for next summer’s European Championship has been used by Huuhkaji for the first time in Bristol during Thursday’s gigantic European Championship qualifying match.
Balls from Pohjanpalo’s feet and head have been slippery recently, even in Italy. The Finn leads the Serie B goalscorers in Venezia with 18 hits. This year’s side has already scored 13 goals.
In the previous match on Friday against Palermo, there were two hits. After an interview in the lobby of a hotel in Bristol, Pohjanpalo finds on his phone the information about the selection as the round’s most valuable player.
It’s only the second season in Venice, but Pohjanpalo, who got the captain’s armband, has already risen to the status of a cult player. Venezia is caught in direct promotion to Serie A.
– A pretty optimal choice was made. A huge number of goals, but also a lot of assists, which has been gratifying. I’ve also gotten into the city well and made a lot of new friends. In every aspect, it was the right choice to go to Venice, Pohjanpalo tells Urheilu.
You can sense from everything that Pohjanpalo is currently enjoying the life of a football player to the fullest. And why not – the game runs on a personal and team level in a way that is tailored specifically for Pohjanpalo.
– Our coaching has built a way of playing in such a way that it supports my qualities and strengths. The balls that come into the box and how we open the game. Head Coach (Paolo Vanoli) has well understood what kind of players we have and what kind of strengths they have. On the other hand, his way of playing can also eliminate the players’ weaknesses, Pohjanpalo describes.
Pohjanpalo says that he has grown significantly as a player also tactically.
– We train for an hour and a half a day. We are standing on the field and the coach is shouting instructions at the top of his voice when he is even a meter in the wrong place, Pohjanpalo laughs.
If the style of play in Venezia’s shirt supports Pohjanpalo’s strengths, Huuhkajie’s playing, on the other hand, is not exactly built on his strengths. In the previous European Championship qualifiers, attacking was largely successful Teemu Pukin utilizing features in counterattacks, but in recent years the head coach Markku Kanerva has shaped its match plans more and more strongly according to the opponent.
Pohjanpalo feels that the Huuhkajie’s improved success has an effect on this.
– We have previously been the underdogs in quite a few matches. Now that our own status has risen, opponents respect us more and have given us more possession. As a result, our playing has changed. The key to everything is still the team’s collective defensive play and the counterattacks that come from that, Pohjanpalo states.
– Of course, our playing with the ball has improved from what it was many years ago. We have been able to create more and better goal chances even with slower attacks. We are constantly trying to improve it.
Before the interview, Huuhkajie’s training sessions and meetings have reviewed Wales’ attacking play. Even before the next question can even be asked, Pohjanpalo makes it clear that there is no need to worry about the content of the meetings.
– I’m not going to say anything, Pohjanpalo grins.
Now if ever the preparation is done with utmost precision. And not least because on Thursday night in Cardiff, you may have to be ready for overtime and a penalty shootout.
If Pohjanpalo is still on the field during a possible penalty shootout, he is likely to shoot.
– Actually, the last time I had to shoot a comma, I missed it. Haven’t fallen asleep. Of course (a possible spot race) has crossed my mind, but it will be a tragedy at the time if it ends up there. Let’s take care that the ball is put in the bag.
Pohjanpalo is the only Finnish male player who has scored a goal in a prestigious tournament. Unlike his teammates, when asked, he does not open up about the meaning of a possible second consecutive EC final tournament place.
– Let’s start with the fact that the big dream is to play the qualifying final at the Olympic Stadium. That would be pretty amazing, Pohjanpalo concludes.
will follow the EC qualifying game Wales-Finland on Thursday on its website moment by moment and will show the game live on TV2 and Areena. The broadcast starts at 21:00 in the advance studio. The match starts at 21:45.