Finland’s head coach Tomas Westerlund has named his team for the World Cup qualifiers. Now there are changes in the named group.
The Finnish women’s national handball team opens the World Cup qualifiers at the end of October in the first phase of the qualifying tournament, where the opponents are Estonia and Israel. All matches of the qualifying tournament will be played in Karja.
Head coach Tomas Westerlund has named his team for the World Cup qualifiers, Käsipalloliitto informs.
– Many old familiar names are included and then a few newer ones who have played well now and already last spring, Westerlund says.
Finland got the World Cup qualifying tournament to organize after Estonia gave up the right to host it.
The starting points of the World Cup qualifying tournament are clear. Only the winner continues to the next stage of the World Cup qualification, which will be played in the second week of April 2025. In the second qualifying phase, the countries are drawn into match pairs, the winners of which advance to the World Cup final tournament played in Holland and Germany.
Women’s WC qualifying tournament in Karja:
Thursday 24.10. at 18:00 Estonia – Finland
Friday 25.10. at 18:00 Israel – Estonia
Saturday 26.10. at 16:00 Finland – Israel
The Finnish team for the World Cup qualifiers:
Wilhelmiina Wolff (mv), IFK Örebro (SWE)
Roosa Niemi (mv), HIFK
Johanna Hilli, GrIFK
Kira Härkönen, HIFK
Emma von Nandelstadh, HIFK
Patricia Anckar, BK-46
Malena Heikkinen, Dicken
Matilda Peitsaro, Dicken
Lotta Kulju, IFK Örebro (SWE)
Natascha Foley, HC Rödertal (GER)
Emma Aarnio, Västerås Irsta (SWE)
Ella Holopainen, HIFK
Corinna Jensen, GrIFK
Julia Lönnborg, Stjärnan (ISL)
Nicolina Fredriksson, HK Aranäs (SWE)
Anette Rakkolainen, HC Rödertal (GER)
Ella Valkamo, Dicken
Source: Finnish Handball Association