The Finnish men’s national football team played its most important match in recent years as a guest of Slovenia. The match was so important in terms of European Championship qualification. The target is the summer 2024 European Championship in Germany.
Before the day’s matches, Slovenia and Denmark had 13 points, Finland and Kazakhstan 12, as the two best in the group advance to the games. The expectation was that Denmark will win the group, Finland and Slovenia will fight for second place.
More than a thousand Finnish fans were there and the mood was fantastic. The Finnish spectators saluted Markku Kanervaa with a furious storm of screams when the head coach marched into a TV interview before the match.
When the match started at the Stozice stadium, the joy was far from Finnish, and clichédly only one team was on the field.
Finland couldn’t get their opening game on track at any point in the opening period, but instead Slovenia dealt with mistakes mercilessly. First Benjamin Sesko succeeded from the rough when Leo Vaisänen brought down Slovenia in the penalty area Andraz Sporar.
Sesko hit the second time from a drive-through, when Robert Ivanov had lost the ball in the center circle.
During the break of the match, ‘s experts were unanimous about how miserable Huuhkajat looked on the field.
– I haven’t seen Finland this bad in a long time. Finland lost in everything. Slovenia overcame all chaotic situations and came out of them with the ball. Finland’s opening game was stuck, they played balls where they were underpowered, lost everything, couldn’t get anywhere from their own box. Nothing burns, Toni Koskela poured out in the studio.
– In the name of truth, one hundred to zero. Men against boys. Tactically, physically, mentally, technically, Slovenia is 100-0 at the moment. The Finnish team is resting, the distances are huge. Rarely have you seen such a disjointed Finland, Antti Pohja continued.
According to Koskela, the situation that led to the penalty kick started from a weak opening game, where the Finnish players were not ready. After that Jere Uronen didn’t get close to the ball, but he was able to turn and play an easy pass to the Finnish goal.
Both experts were of the opinion that in the situation Väisänen went to look for loot in vain, when he could have just prevented Sporar from turning.
Slovenia played in their familiar 4–4–2 formation, but managed to surprise Finland with their hard pressing.
– Slovenia did it brilliantly at times, Finland was in real trouble. Then when the alternative is to hit a long ball For Teemu Pukihe is not the same level as a target player as Sesko or Sporar, Pohja explained.
– Of course, Slovenia gave the ball a completely different pressure than Finland, Koskela continued.
Slovenia’s second goal came from a counterattack where Slovenia has been extremely strong. Just before that, Finland had finally gained control of the game.
– Finland seemingly dominated and took control of the game, partly they succeeded when the passing chains were long, but then you have to take care of the ball. This was a clear mistake on Ivanov’s part.
In the opening period, Slovenia had great chances to increase their lead from special situations and long shots.
– Finland could not put pressure on the ball in any situation, Slovenia was able to switch sides and play between the lines. However, that field was bad, you should be able to put pressure on it, Koskela said and pointed to the stadium’s poor condition.
For the second period, Finland made significant changes. Joel Pohjanpalo became a center forward, vikkelä Daniel Håkans also to kehi. It was left for the exchange during the break Benjamin Källman and Rasmus Schuller. In June, Håkans, who represents the Norwegian Vålerenga, scored a hat-trick in the net of San Marino in the second national A match of his career.
Although Slovenia also had dangerous counterattacks, Finland finally got to the areas where they can create goalscoring opportunities. Slovenia’s star goalkeeper Jan Oblak however, took a great save from, for example, Håkans’ open position.
When there was no reduction goal, Finland seemed discouraged. The last quarter of the match was really broken and choppy, which of course was the purpose of Slovenia in the lead.
Erik Janza scored from a corner kick in extra time of the match. 3–0 was fatal to the extent that Finland beat Slovenia 2–0 at home in June. Therefore, if Slovenia and Finland are equal at the end of the group, Slovenia will be ahead based on the matches between them.
Toni Koskela stated that, understandably, the flow of the game turned to Finland in a losing position. Finland had small preliminaries to revive the game. In any case, the first episode solved the whole thing.
– Yes, Slovenia’s game plan and playing with strengths succeeded, Antti Pohja stated.
– The result is the truth. Behind it is a presentation in which Slovenia was sovereign.
For Finland, the European Championship place is no longer in its own hands.
– That’s exactly how it is. It’s a wishful thinking game. It’s not enough to win your own games, and there’s work to be done in those too, Pohja said.
Slovenia and Finland have three matches left. Five points are enough for Slovenia to keep Finland behind them.
Slovenia still faces Northern Ireland, Denmark and Kazakhstan. Slovenia can therefore afford to lose to Denmark.
Finland still faces Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland and San Marino.
Today, on Saturday evening, Denmark will face Kazakhstan. Then Denmark face San Marino, Slovenia and Northern Ireland.
23.3. Denmark–Finland 3 to 1
26.3. Northern Ireland–Finland 0–1
16.6. Finland–Slovenia 2–0
19.6. Finland–San Marino 6–0
7.9. Kazakhstan–Finland 0–1
10.9. Finland–Denmark 0–1
14.10. Slovenia–Finland 3–0
Tue 17.10. at 19 Finland–Kazakhstan
Fri 17.11. at 19 Finland–Northern Ireland
Mon 20.11. at 21:45 San Marino–Finland
The best two of the group will qualify for the summer 2024 European Championships, which will be played in Germany.
shows all Huuhkajie’s qualifying matches live.