No tickets were sold for the opening part of Helmarie’s EC further qualification, because in Montenegro we are still in a situation where people are not ready to pay for football played by women.
Hinn Hirvonen,
Timo Uusitalo
Helmarit will face Montenegro in the opening match of the first round of the European Championship qualifiers in Podgorica on Friday at 17:30 Finnish time. Broadcast on TV2, Areena and the app from 17:10.
In the women’s European Championship qualifiers, Finland goes to the matches in Montenegro as a clear preliminary favorite. Helmarit is ranked 26th in the Fifa ranking, while Montenegro is ranked 88th.
Montenegro cleared its way to the further qualifiers by being one of the three best group runners-up in the C-League of the qualifiers.
No tickets will be sold for the opening part of Helmarie’s EC further qualification, because in Montenegro we are still in a situation where people are not ready to pay for women’s football.
Although football is the most popular sport in Montenegro, it is still not perceived as a women’s sport.
In Montenegro, there are only about 400 girls and women football enthusiasts, a local contact person told Urheilu.
– I really think both (genders) should have a chance. If you ask the Montenegrin players, it is a big deal for them to represent this national team. It makes me a little sad that there is no investment in it, Helmarie’s head coach Marko Saloranta says.
In women’s ball, volleyball and handball are, on the other hand, very popular team sports in Montenegro.
Montenegro’s first Olympic medal as an independent country was brought by the women’s handball team in London in 2012.
– I must have already talked fifteen years ago about the fact that on the day when Eastern and Southern European countries start investing in women’s football, we will be in a hurry. This is because everything needed is already ready there, i.e. know-how, conditions and football culture, Saloranta points out.
In any case, the local football association expects approximately 500 spectators for the Finland match. The game will be played at 16:30 local time and admission is free.
San Francisco commented earlier that it is important for Montenegro to play against countries like Finland, which are tougher in advance, so that they can see where the level of women’s football is going.
The helmets are also offered a rare treat in the EC further qualifiers, when the VAR video system is in use. This is not a completely new thing, as Finnish women’s soccer players came under the scope of VAR in the European Championships in 2022.
Helmarit will face Montenegro in the opening match of the first round of the European Championship qualifiers in Podgorica on Friday at 17:30 Finnish time. Broadcast on TV2, Areena and the app from 17:10.