Pikkuhuhkajat was disappointingly close to a direct European Championship place. Head coach Mika Lehkosuo’s package promises an interesting further qualification, writes Urheilu’s Jussi Vainikka.
Jussi Vainikka sports reporter
21:45•Updated 21:47
TAMPERE. There were no big celebrations, but securing a place in the next qualification put a cautious smile of relief on the faces of the members of the Finnish under-21 national team.
Montenegro fell after a difficult game by two Naatan Skytä with a score of 2–1. The goal of a place in the European Championships was not yet realized, but it is still possible.
Mika Lehkosuo coached by the group will continue hunting for next summer’s European Championship ticket in Slovakia in the further qualifying in November. The competition spot is opened by winning a two-part match pair. The opponent is not yet known. The next qualifying spot is Finland’s first since 2008, when a flight was enough for the first and so far the only time until the final tournament.
On Friday, Finland put Switzerland to a good test on the away field, and the realization of the competition place already at this stage crumbled bitterly to Switzerland’s equalizer in extra time. Switzerland finally bounced out of the Games completely by losing to Romania on Tuesday, which ensured its place in the Games.
The biggest smile after the match might have been head coach Lehkosuo, who instructed his players and other coaches in Tampere from the pipe shelf of the stand due to the official ban. Montenegro’s special lead goal made Lehkosuo thoughtful, but a quick equalizer brought relief back to the face.
The video coaches cheered the winning goal, but the goal didn’t cause a visible reaction in Lehkosuo. Your miller inside for sure. There is still a continuation of the great qualifying.
In the fall, it has been difficult to catch up with the Huuhkajie, the flagship of Finnish football, which has sunk to a poor result. On the other hand, the game principles found in the background of a good qualification are easier to recognize in Pikkuhuuhkaji – the way of playing is also largely built on the characteristics of the best players.
Attacking has been Skytä’s, Take Liimatan and Casper Terhon with the lead vertically straight and effective regardless of the opponent. The defense has also worked like a model – during the qualification, the team has rattled only eight times in ten matches. Ville Koski and Tony Miettinen have formed a strong couple in autumn.
The special situations that have been the bane of the A national team for years are also in excellent shape in Pikkuhuuhkaj. In the important games of September, Finland succeeded twice in scoring from corner kicks in a similar way. This is no accident. Belongs to the training team Ramiro Muñoz is known for his expertise in special situations and it shows.
The player material is exceptionally strong in the age group. Several key players are playing good minutes in good European leagues. It’s easy to see a great future even in the A national team, for example, for the almost two-meter midfielder For Luka Hyryläinen20, who plays big minutes week after week in Germany’s 2nd Bundesliga.
Pikkuhuhkajat could be even stronger, but the players, as is typical for the youth national team, have lived a lot during the qualification. Four players who appeared in the qualifiers (Top Middle, Leo Walta, Tomas Galvez and Matti Peltola) was with Huuhkajie in the now ended national team window. Despite this, the game performances have remained balanced.
It will be interesting to see if Mika Lehkosuo can use these players for further qualification. Huuhkaji’s situation in the Nations League is so difficult that it would be in the interest of Finnish football to give Lehkosuo the best possible conditions to succeed.
If the competition venue opens up, the same discussion is ahead before the EC tournament.
Finland’s possible opponents in the further qualification are Belgium, Norway, Georgia, the Czech Republic and Croatia. Match pairs will be drawn on Thursday.