Helmarit will continue its Nations League matches at the end of October, when the team will face Croatia twice. shows the Finnish People’s League matches on its channels.
The Finnish women’s national football team Helmarit ended the national team break in September at the top of their group in the Nations League. On Friday, Finland convincingly beat Slovakia at home with 4–0 goals, and on Tuesday, as a guest of Romania, Helmarit took a narrow 1–0 victory.
Finland started the match against Romania strongly, when Eveliina Summanen was able to complete the game-winning goal already in the 17th minute of the game. However, the second half was very challenging for Finland, and Romania’s success was not very far away. Only the defender Elli Pikkujämsän head blocked the equalizer.
Work on changing the new game identity in progress
Urheilu’s football expert Maiju Ruotsalainen according to Finland, there was room to attack along the wings, while Romania blocked the central area and its penalty area. However, the Swede is upset when the Finnish players did not make personal decisions on the sidelines.
– For example Katariina Kosolala and Emma at Koivisto there were several good opportunities either to challenge defenders in one-on-one situations or to center the ball in front of the goal. For some reason, the players seemed to be looking for passes rather than individual solutions, Ruotsalainen estimated.
The head coach of the helmets Marko Saloranta officially started washing in January of this year. Under the new coaching leadership, Finland has played with a new game identity, where the team wants closer control of the ball and the distances between the players.
Ruotsalainen says that the coaching management has done a convincing groundwork for Finland’s new look, but the change work is still in progress.
– Finland’s stickiness was due to the fact that by passing they tried to break Romania’s dense and low defensive block.
In previous years, Finland has built its attack in a fast-paced and straightforward manner. For example, the previous head coach Anna Signeul described the team’s style of play in 2021 as “simple and brutal”. Under Signeuli, Finland went on a quick counterattack after possession of the ball, or the game tool was kicked long into the opponent’s half of the field.
– At the moment, Finland is still looking for a pass, even if the players have the opportunity to advance with the ball or challenge opponents in one-on-one situations, the Ruotsalainen states.
The Romanian press caused challenges
Sports expert Hanna Ruohomaa assesses after Friday’s Slovakia match that Finland’s Achilles heel is defending its own penalty area. According to expert Ruotsalainen, on Tuesday night the weakness of the defensive end was visible elsewhere.
Finland didn’t seem to find a way to get out of their own area when Romania increased their pressing level in the second half. Romania managed to steal the ball in Finland’s half of the field on several occasions, some of which happened quite close to the Helmareite goal.
– Romania was able to build its counterattacks too close to the Finnish goal. Yes, defending one’s own box needs to be improved, but situations where the ball has just been won for one’s own team require even more improvement. After that, you have to get the first pass to your teammates, and move the ball out of the area where it is often lost in these games, the Ruotsalainen states.
Due to the high intensity and strong level of pressing in the second half, Romania got into the game, managed to create scoring chances and came close to the equalizer. The Romania match was the first measure of how the players react when the things they have practiced don’t work out. According to the Swede, the leader was exhausted from Finland.
– I think that he was absent due to injury Olga Ahtinen the absence was visible. He has clearly been a leader who directs others with his speech and brings a sense of security to those around him. I don’t know if anyone stepped up to lead the group when Ahtinen intervened.
Head coach Marko Saloranta responded to the Ruotslaisen’s assessment on ‘s broadcast on Tuesday evening.
– Eveliina Summanen is a different manager, Eva Nyström is a leader and Natalia Kuikka leads in what he does. Doesn’t necessarily talk too much, but is a clear leader. Of course, the team always needs leaders and Olga (Ahtinen) is one, but there are other leaders, Saloranta said.
Nations League, B-League, Group 2
The results of the second division of the Nations League B-League:
Finland–Slovakia 4–0, Croatia–Romania 2–1, Finland– Romania 1–0, Slovakia–Croatia 4–0.
What happens if the group win is secured early?
By winning their group, Finland would advance directly to the EC further qualification and move up to the A-league, where the World Cup medalists Spain, England and Sweden will play, among others.
The Swede, Urheilu’s expert, feels that the team is well prepared for the important matches in terms of the European Championships. In international matches before the start of the Nations League, Finland faced either teams from its group or opponents of the same level.
– Finland has honed its own ball control and attacking game for these B-league matches, but has not yet set its sights on those tougher matches. Of course, this group must be won first, but at the same time, Finland should prepare for opponents in the next category.
The Swede states that the Finnish coaching staff should start thinking about how to win the matches of the coming season. Do you believe in your own ball control or is the game more about defensive victories?
– I would like perhaps more reaction to the game from the coaching staff, and not so much that they have thought about who, how and when to play in advance. You should react to that game even more effectively. For example, Katariina Kosola was great in the Slovakia game when she managed to outrun the opponents. Against Romania, Kosola did not succeed, but still he was not replaced from the field.
Listen to the latest episode of Urheilu’s 11 friends podcast below or from this link.
Finland’s upcoming matches:
27.10. Finland-Croatia
31.10. Croatia-Finland
30.11. Finland-Romania
5.12. Slovakia–Finland