Finland will start its pursuit of a third consecutive European Championship place on Sunday from Montenegro. Head coach Tapio Kangasniemi will move on to other duties after the qualifiers.
21.8. 9:00•Updated 21.8. 9:01 am
PLJEVLYA. The Finnish women’s national volleyball team has arrived in Northern Montenegro the night before Saturday. The journey through Istanbul and Podgorica continued well around the clock. The last three-hour trip to Taipale by bus, winding serpentine roads and overnight thunderstorms did not give the team the kindest possible starting point for Saturday’s finishing exercises before the important away opening of the EC qualifiers.
– I’m already sweating here. It seems that he will leave on Sunday, team captain, passari Kaisa Alanko laughs after a short night and a Saturday morning pounding workout.
– It has been a slightly different summer when the Europa League was not played. But we have been able to train a lot and very well.
The national team has a long summer behind them before the three-week final crunch covering the European Championship qualifiers. Camping started already in the middle of May. The head coach Tapio Kangasniemen according to the idea behind the summer training, Finland would be a couple of clicks better than the opposing countries as a team.
– The team is feeling good, we are going in a good direction. The players who have been on the roster since May have been in programmed training. They are in good shape, Kangasniemi states with confidence.
Netta Laaksonen confirms the head coach’s view. According to Libero, Finland is ready for a difficult away game against Montenegro.
– It has gone well. Actually, with the exception of the three-week self-employment period, the whole summer has been trained (together). Now let’s get to the best times, the games.
The goal is a third consecutive competition place
In addition to the opening opponent Montenegro, the Czech Republic and Iceland play in the same qualifying group as Finland. The two best are guaranteed a place in next year’s European Championships in Belgium, Italy, Estonia and Germany. In the preliminary settings, the Czech Republic is the favorite to win the group, Finland and Montenegro are fighting for the second place.
– It would probably be tempting to say that, but we always start from scratch. We will not hand over a single piece to the Czech Republic, Tapio Kangasniemi points out.
– Iceland will surely come out without pressure and Montenegro will surely want to reach the European Championship for the first time in its history.
Finland played four victorious training matches in August. Switzerland and Sweden, the quarter-final team of the last European Championships, which suffered from injuries, fell in the test games.
The Czech Republic reached the final of the Golden League in the summer, but the feeling of the competitive matches of the other teams in the qualifying group is minimal.
– Of course, four games is quite a bit for that game rhythm, but let’s say frankly that Montenegro and Iceland haven’t played much either, Kangasniemi says.
The focus of honing my own game has been on preparing to face tall teams like the Czech Republic and Montenegro.
– Our blocking defense has been at a good level in recent years. Passing is one that can be used to do something, but of course it doesn’t win the game alone. A fast style of play and a surprising attacking game, that’s what we’re going for, explains the head coach.
Finland beat Montenegro a little over a year ago in the European Championship qualifiers twice and made it to the European Championships. Montenegro was very close to victory in Podcorica, but Finland managed to turn the match into a victory. On Sunday, they will face a slightly different home team.
– Both passars have changed, and that part has actually gone in a better direction. The coach has also changed, but I can’t believe that the playing style had changed so much. A couple of tall, hard-hitting wingers are coming, and their middle player is also in a tough spot, Kangasniemi describes.
Farewell to the head coach
Kaisa Alanko and Netta Laaksonen praise Finland’s spirit of unity and unyieldingness. The team has suffered from injuries, and the team is missing, among other things, a libero Tiia-Mari Sievänen and Anna Czakan. Chopper Maid Korhonen playing condition is looked at day by day, middle player Daniela Öhman seems to be fine again.
There are four first-timers in the European Championship qualifiers in the team: Netta Rekola, Hilkka Hujanen, Emmi Jalonen and Sanna Häkkinen.
– A new and different personality has joined the team, that’s nice. We spent the early summer very closely together and got to know new faces. We have a good group together again, says Alanko.
Even if Finland clears its way to next year’s European Championships, the head coach will change. The qualifiers are the last for Kangasniemi, who has coached the women’s national team since 2014, at the helm of the blue and whites. He has been elected as the Sports Executive Director of the Volleyball Association, and a successor has not yet been named.
– I haven’t really thought about it in the last few weeks. You never know when it will be the last time and when it won’t be, Kangasniemi comments.
The players are aware of the situation, although they emphasize that the focus is completely on winning the qualifying games.
– It’s a bit of a wistful feeling. The balance sheet always mentions it from time to time. But we are fully focused on these games. Tase has said himself that he enjoys every moment, says captain Alanko.
– It would be great if that race spot could be redeemed in honor of Tase’s fault summer, Netta Laaksonen adds.
Montenegro–Suomi on TV2 on Sunday from 18:25. shows all of Finland’s EC qualifying games live in Areena and some of the matches also on TV2.