Finland started the World Cup qualifiers with a 1-0 win in Malta. The match was the first of the new head coach Jacob Friis.
21.3. 23: 40 • Updated 21.3. 23:52
The Finnish men’s football team started the World Cup qualifiers for the summer 2026 with a 1-0 away win in Malta. The goal was made in a good mood in the Hollan Go Ahead Eagles Oliver Antman.
The match was at the same time a new head coach Jacob Frisian the first in the hustle and bustle. The Finnish game performance did not convince. The defense had difficulties and the attack game was non -existent in the second half.
In any case, the result was an important victory and the first win of the Huuhkaja for almost a year.
– I’m not happy with all the results. I think we looked tense. We didn’t win much of the match. In my opinion, such a game is a natural continuation of learning new things, it is still in progress. When the team has not yet won the matches, it will affect the game performance, Friis comments to after the game.
– Our game didn’t look beautiful or very flowing. It was difficult and we squeezed too much. I’m not happy with what our game contained. Still, the players have to be praised because the result is important and there were even the right things in the game. Still, this was not at all beautiful.
Friis left a few frequently players on the bench, such as Glen Chamber and Rasmus Schüller. In the attack alive Joel Pohjanpalo, Benjamin Källman and Antman.
During the first quarter, Malta created a couple of rather dangerous places as a result of mistakes in Finland’s defense and soft play.
Finland’s first top spot came at half an hour. Antman focused and Pohjanpalo pushed. Keeper Henry Bonellon After the fight, Källman had an empty goal ahead, but the shot was over the goal.
38 by minute Finland took the lead. Källman’s long -distance shot came from the fight directly to Antman, who placed the ball in the net.
In the second half, Malta also had dangerous situations. The Finnish defense seemed vulnerable. The hustle and bustle’s own places in the other half were really low. Malta forced Finland to make a change in the line of five defenders, which Friis message Daniel Håkans In the field by taking a patch.
– We made a change and it, Friis comments on her media.
Finland got to play with its 78th minute with overwhelming Kurt Shaw Got a red card from the ugly tackle. Kaan Kairinen The ankle twisted really nasty in the situation. However, Kairinen was able to continue the game.
Finland did not achieve much of the overwhelming. However, Malta did not score, so Finland started the World Cup qualifiers with a victory.