Helmari head coach’s special freeze at the press conference speaks – expert suspects that Anna Signeul’s era is coming to an end

The victory in the World Cup qualifiers and a direct place in the race has already escaped a pre-favorite for Sweden. Finland and Ireland are fighting for second place, which entitles them to qualify for the World Cup qualifiers.

The World Cup qualifiers will continue in the autumn. Finland has two matches left when it faces Ireland and Sweden in September. Ireland, which managed to grab a draw from Sweden, will face Georgia and Slovakia in addition to Finland.

Finland will certainly hold second place if it wins both Ireland and Sweden. If Slovakia plays as expected, ie beats Georgia and Slovakia, it means that Finland should take points from Sweden. However, Sweden, which ranks second in Fifa’s world ranking, is extremely difficult to shake off, even though it has secured its place in the World Cup.

If Finland loses to Sweden but defeats Ireland, the Helmarien must hope that Slovakia will be able to take points from Ireland.

With regard to the qualifying games for the autumn, it should first be noted that the composition of Finland may change greatly. The expected European Championships will be played in July. After that, more experienced players may end their careers or at least their national team careers, Sports Expert believes. Jonne Kunnas.

– When we go to the autumn qualifiers, it may be that Helmarit is in the grip of change.

First goalkeeper who played more than a hundred national matches Tinja-Riikka Korpela35, made his national team debut in 2007. Like Korpela, a side pack Tuija Hyyrynen34, already played in the European Championships 2009. Due to a back injury against Slovakia and Georgia, the all-time national team goalie Linda Sällström, 33, already scored in the 2009 European Championships. These are possible examples with reference to the previous one.

Whether some players quit the European Championships will force their attitudes towards the remaining qualifiers.

– If the part stops, then the autumn games are already a forced change. But as long as there are even theoretical possibilities, it is quite clear that the World Cup venue must be twisted by all means, Kunnas sees.

Head coach Anna Signeulin the agreement has spoken.

The Football Association had previously only announced that Signeul will continue until the end of the European Championships. When Sports asked Signeul at a Football Association media conference last week if it is already known who will train the Helmars in the remaining World Cup qualifiers this fall, Signeul did not want to answer the question. After that, however, it turned out that Turku Sanomat had told (you will switch to another service) last fall, Signeul will continue until the end of 2022.

After the media conference, the Football Association confirmed that Signeul’s contract will continue until the end of 2022. Secretary – General of the Football Association Marco Casagrande told Sports that Signeul ‘s contract situation is due to a corona pandemic. His contract was originally valid until the end of the 2021 European Championships. When the European Championships were postponed by a year, Signeul’s contract continued.

According to Casagrande, the Football Association had decided with Conteul to continue until the end of 2022 so that the Swedish coach’s project would not be interrupted during the World Cup qualifiers. If the European Championships had not been postponed, the World Cup qualifiers would have started only after that.

The information policy is surprising.

– A special case in general. What is most surprising is that when asked at the press conference, Signeul froze and was surprised. It somehow gives this outsider a special picture of what it means in practice. It is a taste that yes the era of Anna Signeul is now coming to an end. This is speculation, of course, but such a picture is conveyed, says Kunnas.

Could it make sense for Signeul’s and Helmari’s paths to differ even after the European Championships, when the chances in the rest of the World Cup qualifiers are slim?

– If the Football Association has a clear picture that Signeul will not continue after this contract period, and if the Football Association has figured out the next head coach well, it is not a bad idea. Then you could, so to speak, give a start to a new coach.

– If this discussion with Signeul has not taken place or there is no certainty about the future, then I do not see any point in changing. As for the two games, it could be even more confusing if, for example, he became a temporary head coach, Kunnas thinks.

Signeul has been playing Helmars in recent years with very much the same opening line-up and line-up in general. No new experimenters have been seen in the group, which has caused criticism.

– The project is built in such a way that bets are placed on the same players. It has produced results that need to be respected. The European Championship venue is a great achievement. But reflecting on that, the lineup hasn’t thought about time ahead. It has been clear who is playing, and it will maximize next summer’s result, says Kunnas.

– However, it is really difficult in the transition phase for new players to get in. There is a really big reform ahead. I’m not going to speculate on Signeul’s motivation to continue, but the choices seem to have hit everything here right now, regardless of time. It suggests that continuing Signeul after this is at least difficult, Kunnas continues.

At the moment, however, the main goal of the Helmari is at the European Championships. In the first block, Finland will face three countries from the absolute top. Looking at the European Championships in England, the games in Slovakia and Georgia did not add any cause for joy or concern.

– The only thing to be exhausted was that the players had common moments on the field. The games at the European Championships are quite different and Finland is a clear underdog. Important are the upcoming practice matches, where the opponents will better serve the European Championships, says Kunnas.

Finland will face Japan in a training match before the European Championships and will probably play another training game.