The World Cup qualifier will begin with a guest match on 21.3. Malt and 24.3. Against Lithuania. shows qualifying matches on TV2 and Arena.
When the fresh head coach of the Finnish men’s soccer team Jacob Friis Last week announced his team for the March World Cup qualifier, one new name was found on the list: 25-year-old central defender Ville Tikkanen.
Tikkanen may not be familiar to the general public, but those following football know him quite well. Tikkanen has been one of SJK’s key players and supporters’ favorites in recent years. Last season, he also served as a team captain. As a defender, he is fast and skilled with the ball and good to lead and control the game.
Tikkanen grew up from a teenager in Seinäjoki as he moved to the SJK Academy at the Oulu Skate Club at the age of 16. He quickly progressed to the representative team and made his Veikkausliiga debut in just over a year. At SJK, Tikkanen played 150 official matches before moving to HJK after eight SJK seasons last November.
According to HJK, the topper was followed by “all other Veikkausliiga top clubs, and bids came from abroad.” Tikkanen said For the Ilkka-Ostrobothnian In November that he had the opportunity to move to Scotland, too, Simo Valakarin to coach St. Johnston. He was one of Valakari’s last acquisitions before he was fired from SJK.
-I feel that HJK was a good step, Tikkanen said at his first A-team media event, which was held from Malta as a remote party.
– I chose HJK because of it because it’s a really big club. There are good opportunities, if only performing well, move on.
Not to the abroad
Moving abroad has been Tikkanen’s goal for a long time, but he did not want to get there. He has stated that he wants to move in his career at a time and see what is the best environment to develop.
Currently, such an environment can be found in HJK. More national teams have been struggling with the Helsinki club for the world. For example Daniel O’shaughnessy moved from the club recently to the German Karlsruher, Arttu Hoskonen Cracovia in Poland and Miro Tenho To Djurgården, Sweden.
– What I have been in Helsinki now, it has been a very good transition, Tikkanen assured.
Tikkanen has played seven under-19 national matches. Of these, he played in Seinäjoki in the age group European Championship Tournament. He had to wait for the A national team for seven years. At first, he was supposed to be on the national team, but due to absenteeism he got involved in the Malta camp.
– Certainly every Finnish futar dream is to play in the Huuhkaji. When it came to fruition now that I got to the camp, the feelings are great, Tikkanen said and said that getting there was a great achievement.
– You know that something has done right. There are so many good guys on the lists that no one can get there in vain or free.
Returns mentally stronger
So far, Tikkanen has officially played only league games at HJK. He does not feel that one performance in the Cup game has brought a place to the national team camp, but has brought it to his selfless work over the years.
– I didn’t want to think that now I play well to get to the national team. I’ve gone forward from the game, focused on my own stuff and the success of the team. I have now stayed in good shape, got a good responsibility, so I bet I got this opportunity.
Even if Tikkanen will not be able to play against Malta or Lithuania in the World Cup qualifiers, he believes he already has a lot of self-confidence and experience from the camp. The best players in Finland are involved in the training, so the level is tough. Tikkanen believes he will return to Helsinki, at least as a mentally stronger player, and proudly bear the experience that he has been able to be involved in the Huuhkaj.
Finland is a pre-favorite against Malta and Lithuania in March in the World Cup qualifiers, so Tikkanen says of a six point in the binoculars and a good start to the qualifiers. The new head coach and coaching team will bring their own spice to the soup.
– We will definitely see a different rush on the field what has been seen before. I believe we will also see a winning team.