Iina Salmi is the only Finn to have played in the Dutch women’s football league. In addition, he knows the importance of Dutch star player Lieke Martens to his team.
Riku Porvari,
Hinn Hirvonen
Helmarit continues the EC qualifiers with matches against Holland on Friday, May 31 and Tuesday, June 4. shows the matches live on TV2 and Areena.
Iina Salmi knows Dutch football culture. In the country, loyal supporters gather in the stands and create an atmosphere.
He believes that the Finnish women’s national football team Helmarit is in a tight spot in front of the ecstatic Dutch audience. Sparta Stadion, which holds just over 11,000 spectators, is sold out.
– It’s a horn boiler. On top of that, that Lieke Martens the last match in front of the home crowd. There will certainly be quite a lot going on, Salmi anticipates Finland’s away match in Rotterdam.
Salmi is the only Finn who has played in the Dutch Women’s Eredivisie. He represented the country’s major club Ajax for two seasons. The hardest merit from that time is the cup championship from 2019.
In addition, Salmi has played at the same time with Dutch star player Lieke Martens in FC Rosengård in Sweden.
– The flame can be called a legend. He has been successful with Holland and club teams and has been voted the best in the world.
According to Salmi, an attacking winger is comprehensive: intelligent, good game reading skills, fast and skilled ball handler. Salmi also knows how to tell that Martens has its own trademark.
– He wants to play on the left wing, cut into the center and finish with his right foot. You should be careful with that.
Martens’ resume includes, among others, the European Championship, the Champions League win and the FIFA Women’s Footballer of the Year.
– Lieke is really liked as a person. He gets along with everyone really well. The kind of guy who has his feet on the ground even though he’s really successful. You can find such healthy humility in him, Salmi estimates.
Martens, 31, who represents the French club Paris Saint-Germain, told in May that he will end his national team career after the European Championship qualifiers against Finland.
Holland controls the game with ball control
Holland is one of the best national teams in Europe. It won its own group in the Nations League last fall and advanced to the medal games. In the semi-final, Spain was stronger, and in the bronze medal match, Germany won.
At the moment Holland is struggling with injuries. The page includes, among other things, the players of the starting line-up Vivianne Miedema, Jill Roord and Kerstin Casparij.
Dutch midfielder Jackie Groene describes the national team’s year as difficult.
– Some of our important players have been on the sidelines for a longer time due to serious injuries and in addition now there have been a few smaller injuries, Groenen tells Urheilu.
Among other things, Fifpro, the umbrella organization of soccer’s international players’ associations has noticed the negative impact of the increase in the number of matches on the players’ endurance.
– In a way, we’ve had to get used to it, when the number of matches has increased with, for example, the group stage of the Champions League. There are more injuries than usual, says Groenen.
Despite this, Holland’s lineup is full of top players. Iina Salmi believes that Holland will determine the tempo of the upcoming European Championship qualifiers.
– They have many good players. The team takes possession of the ball very strongly, and Finland has to defend closely.
According to Salmi, Finland must be able to hold the ball for as long periods as possible. Then the team has a chance to grab points from Holland.
– Finland’s game must be intact, because Holland will surely inoculate from mistakes. Finland has been good at quick counter-attacks, so it could be some kind of weapon.
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“Let’s see what happens”
Salmi was chosen as the player of the year in the Women’s League when PK-35 Vantaa, which she represented, won the Finnish championship in 2015. Since then, Salmi has played abroad for years.
In his career, in addition to Ajax and Rosengård, he has represented Swedish Limhamn Bunkeflo and most recently Spanish Valencia. The last time he played in a Finnish shirt was in February 2022.
Salmi, 29, returned to the domestic fields last season in the ranks of the Helsinki Football Club. This season, he has not been seen on the main league pitches.
When asked about the future of his football career, he answers this way:
– I would secretly say just let’s see what happens.
Helmarit continues the EC qualifiers with matches against Holland on Friday, May 31 and Tuesday, June 4. shows the matches live on TV2 and Areena.