The Finnish women’s national football team must be able to do wonders a week if it wants to save itself from humiliation at its European Championship opening, writes Urheilun Hinni Hirvonen.
Even in the European Championship qualifiers, the Finnish women’s national football team did not lose a match and only scored two goals in ten games. Now Helmare’s defensive play is at a level that is not enough in the rock-hard block of the European Championships starting next week.
In Monday’s practice match against Japan, even after the opening period, it looked good. The score now stands at 1–1, and Adelina Engmanin 1-1 goals were allowed to rotate from decelerations.
Even without blue-and-white glasses, it can be said that Finland’s 2–1 lead was not far away. At the end of the opening period, Finland created such places against the 2011 world champion.
That is why it was a big surprise when the ball was dug from the Finnish goal to start the second period. Jun Endo continued freely inside the box freely past the finish line Tinja-Riikka Korpela.
In the name of honesty, Japan raised its level for the second period, but nonetheless: if defending Finland’s boxing garnered criticism Natalia Kuika after Japan’s leading goal that went into it, it also got it in the second, third and fourth goals. The guests of the fifth hit made a penalty kick.
In the European Championship qualifiers, the opponents were certainly not in the category of Japan, Sweden and France, but still: after the European Championship qualifiers that ended in February 2021, Finland has won three of the thirteen matches it has played. Two of the wins have become the throwing bag of the World Cup qualifiers against Georgia, which has lost all its matches and has never succeeded in scoring once. On Monday, it bowed to Ireland 0–9 – and at the same time Finland dropped to third in its World Cup qualifiers.
In the European Championships, the resistance only gets tougher
In an interview after the Japan match, the captain Tinja-Riikka Korpela manasi easy mistakes.
– The world-class team will punish them, Korpela reminded, and it was really seen on Monday night in Turku.
Japan is ranked 13th on the world list. All opponents can be found among the top 15 teams in the world, with Germany and Spain finishing fiveth and seventh.
Spain issued a storm warning on Saturday when it defeated Australia 7-0 at home. Swedish pilot for guests Tony Gustavsson admittedly, the team deliberately played more inexperienced players, and there was, for example, a Chelsea star skipping the national team Sam Kerr, but it does not eliminate the fact that the Spanish European Championship bundle has been left out due to injury Jennifer Hermosoakin is shockingly hard.
Similarly, Germany practiced its 7-0 reading practice opponent on Friday, leaving him without the most important midfielder. Lia Wälti operated by Switzerland. Young Bayern Munich striker Klara Bühl21, was the scorer.
Between the German and Spanish matches, Helmarit will face Denmark, who has been considered a pre-existing opponent from whom Finland could most likely deprive him of points. The Danish level also says that the team will not be able to fit Damallsvenskan’s paint exchange with 12 hits Olga Ahtisen companion Amalie Vangsgaard. For comparison: the most powerful Finns in the series, Kalmar Juliette Kemppi and in Vittsjö, even on the fringes Jutta Rantalahave scored five goals.
On Friday, Denmark also overthrew Brazil’s top 1-1 in the top ten in the world.
The European Championships were originally scheduled to be played last summer, but they were moved a year ahead of the way for the men’s events. For helmers, this is a pity in light of the results.
Anna Signeulin Finland has not shown much signs of improvement in its game performances during the year. There is no room in the European Championships for easy ball losses, misfeeds, being late and mistakes in general – if you want to avoid the fate of Switzerland and Australia.
There is also room for improvement in offensive play, although counter-attacks from great exploits were seen on Monday.
At Saturday’s European Championship General against the Netherlands, Finland will still have the opportunity to measure its level and hone its game. The reigning European champion lost to England on Friday 1-5, so there is plenty to show for the home team as well.
In any case, in just over a week, the Helmare coaching team will have to invent drugs so that the EM opening does not become a hassle, a one-sided display.
The task is not to be missed.