Five games in the Nations League, five defeats. Huhkaji’s goal of a place in the World Cup is hopelessly far away, writes Urheilu’s Jussi Vainikka.
Jussi Vainikka sports reporter
14.11. 23:56•Updated 0:06
A small spark of hope from the struggle for victory had already ignited, but Joel Pohjanpalon the failed penalty kick only summed up Huuhkajie’s dark autumn in a small moment.
It was already the Fifth consecutive loss.
The last time such a dark losing streak was seen in the men’s A national team was 30 years ago.
At least Hans Backen the infamous year 2016 as head coach did not include a similar losing streak – although then the winless streak stretched to 13 matches in all matches.
There are already six losses in competitive matches. After the victory remained a dream in Dublin on Thursday, Finland drops to the C level in the Nations League.
Thursday’s match could have turned out differently. The first period was the best Finland away from home in a long time. A post here or there, the zero still remains in the score column of Huuhkajie. Kehno has also been in the Irish League of Nations, but still collected a full six points from Huuhkaj.
Markku Kanerva and Huuhkajie’s renewed coaching has emphasized in the midst of the autumn gloom that the goal is the World Cup qualifiers. Falling to the C level means that the World Cup qualification starts for Finland in the five-team group already in the next international match window in March.
Sunday’s non-stakes Greece match is therefore practically a dress rehearsal for the qualifiers. I miss going to the general when the turn words are badly lost.
Finland will be in the three-basket of the draw for the World Cup qualifier held in December, so two teams that are basically stronger than Huuhkaj will be drawn into the group. In the previous European Championship qualifiers, Finland was able to make an effort from second place.
Claiming a place in the World Cup is currently an almost insurmountable goal. Finland has never been seen before in those kinkers. Only 16 teams from Europe can make it to the extended games: the winners of all qualifying groups and four teams through the playoff phase.
There is nothing to suggest that Huuhkajat, under the leadership of Markku Kanerva’s coaching team, would be able to turn into a team capable of achieving the level of results required by the World Cup goal in just a few months.
In few football countries, the head coach is allowed to continue in his position when the results plummet down the mountainside. Instead, Kanerva got an extension in the summer and the football people’s promises of a fresher, more efficient national team.
When Finland lost five matches in a row last time, the head coach at the time Tommy Lindholm was allowed to leave.
During the losing streak, the support of the management of Pallloiitto for Kanerva has come from such a common front that it is difficult to see it changing even with relegation to the C-league.
Maybe Kanerva should follow the example of Denmark’s former head coach by Kasper Hjulmand for example. He left the national team in the summer in the middle of the contract period because felt that the team needed new energy and new ideas.
– It’s not about me, it’s about what’s best for the team, Hjulmand said.
No one can take away the undisputed sea virtues of Kanerva with its historic European Championship venues, but perhaps Hjulmand’s words could be applied to Huuhkaji right now as well.