Helmareite’s EC qualifying group culminates on Tuesday on channels. The live broadcast of the Italy–Finland match starts at Areena at 19:40 and on TV2 at 20:00.
Helmarit did it again.
Finland rose from a losing position to a draw against Norway in Turku on Thursday evening. Emma Koivisto finished off a wonderful attack with a 1-1 final score when the eighth minute of extra time was played in the second half.
Finland had already risen from a 0–1 defeat at home to a victory against Italy and a 1–1 draw against top country Holland in its previous qualifying matches.
– This speaks of mental strength, but also of some kind of flow state that prevails in the team, ‘s expert Hanna Ruohomaa says.
The value of Koivisto’s equalizing goal is enhanced by the fact that Finland played the end of the match undermanned Joanna Tynnilän injured.
The Norwegian team is buzzing with star players, but the Finnish substitutes were able to build Fullback Koivisto into the goal position practically at the last possible moment.
Those who entered the field in the second half Emmi Alanen and Heidi Kollanen played a key role in the passing chain that led to the goal. Kollanen freed Koivisto to score with a wonderful through pass.
– This shows how many quality players come from Finland even today, Ruohomaa estimates.
At the same time, Finland’s coaching is gathering praise for successful exchanges. Earlier, for example, in the victory over Italy, he came on the field from a substitute I am Sevenius was about to decide the match.
– The changes that the head coach Marko Saloranta has done in the qualifiers during the games, have repeatedly produced results. It is definitely a feather in the cap for coaching, Ruohomaa analysed.
The team’s mental edge is also told by the way the equalizer was created. The players’ legs didn’t shake, but we saw a series of several wonderfully successful performances, and Koivisto, who was fierce in the match, finished with a moderate placement of the ball past the goalkeeper by Cecilie Fiskerstrand.
– Fatigue makes concentration difficult, but Koivisto kept his head cool, like Ruohomaa.
Big concern over gaming
Despite the mental strength that reaches a state of ecstasy at its best, there is also a big concern in the Helmarei’s playing during the decisive EC qualifying match. The team’s performance still fluctuates enormously. Throughout the qualifiers, there have been strong matches, especially at home, but also really weak games.
In addition, the playing has fluctuated during individual matches, which was seen in Turku. Finland was really quiet at the beginning of the Norway match and in the opening half. In practice, Helmarit did not create a single scoring opportunity in the first half.
According to Ruohomaa, Finland’s playing needs certainty so that the level of fundamentals remains high all the time.
– It is worrying that the level of the game fluctuates so much. We can no longer afford that the team is not ready at the beginning of the game or that the grip is weak, emphasizes the expert.
He would need leadership in difficult moments.
– Someone should show an example of how to get out of a bad moment with their own words and actions.
Game-wise, the difficulties culminate in difficult moments in the absence of a ball game. The distances between the players grew wildly long in the opening half of the Norway match, Linda Sällström and Jutta Rantala were left alone as attackers and the few beginnings of the attack that seemed promising were ruined by weak passes, crosses or attempts to launch in the Norwegian defensive zone.
At the same time, attention is drawn to Finland’s starting line-up. The team has eight players who have started all qualifying matches. Ruohomaa reminds us that the game is always relative to the opponent. Different players’ strengths may be better suited to playing against some teams than others.
The compatibility of the attacking duo has also sparked discussion. In five qualifying matches, Rantala has scored two important goals, but Sällström has not managed to score once.
– Will they be able to create enough of a threat to the opponent’s goal together or should they try something else, Ruohomaa thinks.
In Italy, excellence is required
In the best case scenario, Finland will play in Italy on Tuesday for a direct place in next summer’s European Championships in Switzerland. If Finland beats Italy and the Netherlands does not lose to Norway, Finland will advance directly to the European Championship as the second in the group. So Finland needs help from the Netherlands, who are playing away.
Finland’s success is supported by the ability to stretch, with which the team has already pulled itself back from the brink of the abyss several times. Ruohomaa sees that Italy is the best opponent for Finland among the teams in the group. He is confident in Finland’s possibilities.
– For example, Helmarit was the best at dismantling the Italian press, says Ruohomaa.
He sees clear goals in the game, in which Finland must succeed in order to achieve an away victory. Ruohomaa is the first to emphasize the passing tempo. Helmets must be able to move the ball quickly. When Finland has succeeded in this, the team has also reached dangerous goal posts.
On Tuesday, the distances between the players must not be extended. There can’t be a situation where the Finnish attackers are alone up top while the rest of the team is trickling down.
– It is really difficult to deliver the ball to the attackers and danger areas from below, Ruohomaa sums up.
The Helmarei have to do better than the Norway match in their last decisions on the offensive end. The expert stresses that Helmarit gave the ball away too easily to the opponent in the last third in Turku. Promising attacks were often thwarted by weak solutions.
– Of course, not everyone has to become a goal, but there has to be some kind of danger. Shots that become loose balls or passes that the opponent has to convert into corner kicks are concretized by Ruohomaa.
One original sin above all others must be kept hidden in the Bolzano evening.
– It cannot be that Helmarit gives the opponent one goal in front and then goes chasing, Ruohomaa concludes.
Helmareite’s EC qualifying group culminates on Tuesday on channels. The live broadcast of the Italy–Finland match starts at Areena at 19:40 and on TV2 at 20:00.