The Finnish women’s national football team will gather next in Cyprus, where the team will play three matches. On Thursday, February 16, Finland will face Croatia, on Sunday, the 19th, Hungary, and on the 22nd, Romania.
The team consists mostly of familiar players, but the most famous absentee is the Portland Thorns Natalia Kuikka.
– This week we talked with Natalia. First, he had challenges with his visa to get back to the Yankees. He himself was surprised, since he has already lived in the United States for many years, he even went to university there, the head coach of Helmareit Marko Saloranta started
– When Thorns’ training was about to start, there was a bit of a shortage in the background squad, because there has been a bit of turmoil in the club again. A couple of people have changed in the background, there have been no 11v11 events since we played the latter game against Wales. That’s why we decided with “Natu” that he won’t be on this trip.
Portland has been in the eye of the storm again in recent weeks. The head coach who led the club to the championship Rhian Wilkinson resigned from his position in December due to a relationship dispute, and at the beginning of January, an assistant coach was appointed to replace him Mike Norris.
A week and a half ago, the club was bubbling again when the assistant coach Sophie Clough and physical trainer Pierre Soubrier were allowed to leave. Clough was accused of inappropriate behavior, as he had kissed a player on the neck at the championship party, and Soubrier’s departure was related to illegally passing controlled substances to players.
Of course, Kohu was not the first of its kind.
In autumn 2021, The Athletic published a story (you will switch to another service)where several NWSL players talked about the injustices they experienced against the master coach by Paul Riley, 58, under. Riley was accused, among other things, of forcing her to commit a sexual act. Portland was one of the clubs that Riley was coaching at the time of the events.
Portland investigated the matter after the club’s former player filed a complaint against the coach at the end of the 2015 season and did not renew the coach’s contract. However, the release did not state the reason for the coach’s departure. Since then, Riley continued to coach in the NWSL until the fall of 2021.
Owner of Portland Merritt Paulson was criticized for hiding the case, and he stepped down as CEO.
Despite the uproar, the club celebrated the championship at the end of November. In that case, star defender Kuikka revealed to Urheilu that he had thought about signing an extension contract for a long time.
– It has been difficult to concentrate. What has happened within our team happened before I came here. But it is difficult to play in a league where things are not good. I can say that it has made me think about whether it is the right solution to stay here. But I didn’t want to shy away from the hard and difficult work we have ahead of us in making this league better. It has been difficult, but we have played the game for ourselves, and not for these people, Kuikka commented in November.
However, the uproar did not end there. In January, Riley was banned for life and Portland was fined $1 million.
“The most reasonable in terms of risks”
Thorns started training last week, but still Kuikka was not visible in the team photos (you will switch to another service). According to Saloranta, the reason is exactly the visa problems.
– And since he got there, everyday life hasn’t been quite what he’s used to. Fortunately, he is such an experienced player who has seen a lot. On Wednesday evening, we had a long, good phone call, where we thought about what is the smartest thing. We concluded that this makes the most sense in terms of risks, Saloranta explains.
– Whenever Natu is in the team, he wants to carry it and give his all. But everything looks good now. I believe that the club can find good people for it. I hope that peace will return to everyday life now, because it is such a big part of the time we spend together.
Apart from Kuika, the players named to the Helmariten group in the last year are not seen in Cyprus, for example Nea Lehtolaa, Juliette Kemppiä, Katriina Talaslahtea, Amanda from Ranta, Iina Salmea, Julia Tunturia and not Katriina Talaslahtea. Only the Siren twins were able to join this time Emmi Siren.
– Oona Siren is on our short list, he was really close to being selected. Vilma Koivisto played a very good season in Umeå and now moves to a tough environment in Norrköping. We decided that he is with us now. Oona Siren can play two tough matches with the U23 team. We can only take 22 players and we have very tough players in the reserve who are not participating this time, commented Saloranta.
Among the named players, the national team’s all-time top scorer Linda Sällström only plays in the first two matches.
– We do not play any player in all three games and we test the players. Linda has to return to medical studies before the last game, that’s the reason, Saloranta opens.
In turn, he returns to the ranks of the helmets Kaisa Collinwho moved from AIK to Eskilstuna.
Possible new names for the Turkish national team are those who have moved to AC Milan I am Sevenius, which was named after the U19 team still fighting for a European Championship place. Honga’s long-time captain Milla Punsar in turn joined the rare group of Finns who played in the German Bundesliga when he signed a contract with the newly promoted SV Meppen.
– I’ve followed Sevenius since I was probably 13-14 years old. The 19-year-olds are now coming to the Advanced Qualifier, and it is possible for the age group to play in the final tournament in the summer. It is really important that we have players who can take a big role. Oona is like that, she wants to solve games and can be a leader. Oona is one of the leaders in the 19-year-old project. He is a very interesting player that we follow. He is very close to the A national team, Saloranta clarified.
Punsaria Saloranta is planning to follow up on the spot after the camp in Cyprus.
– Of course, we are following him closely. It’s great to see players taking steps forward. From our point of view, it is a happy situation that there is a tough competition, even though a great playing career has ended during the fall and winter.
Background group named, Lappi-Seppälä to coach abroad
The background group of helmets remained almost the same as what was seen in the fall. Coached HJK last season, also seen as ‘s expert Jonne Kunnas continues in the group as a coach, but as a new name also jumps in, for example familiar from the broadcasts of the summer European Championships Liisa-Maija Rautio.
– Rosa Lappi-Seppälä is going abroad for new challenges, I don’t know the exact address, because it is not yet suitable for publication… I had to call the head coach of the under-23s Jarmo Matikainen with, when Liisa-Maija was already attached to the under-23 team. But Jarmo was happy that people are able to take steps forward. Liisa-Maija has been known to me for a long time and knows all the coaches, Saloranta was happy.
Helmets in Cyprus:
Tinja-Riikka Korpela, Tottenham Hotspur FC
Anna Tamminen, Hammarby IF
Milla-Maj Majasaari, IK Uppsala Fotboll
Joanna Tynnilä, HJK
Eva Nyström, Hammarby IF
Nanne Ruuskanen, SK Brann
Emmi Siren, KuPS
Emma Koivisto, Liverpool FC
Elli Pikkujämsä, Racing Louisville
Tiia Peltonen, Fortuna Hjørring
Eveliina Summanen, Tottenham Hotspur FC
Olga Ahtinen, Linköpings FC
Nora Heroum, Parma Calcio 1913
Adelina Engman, Hammarby IF
Emma Peuhkurinen, KIF Örebro
Katariina Kosola, KIF Örebro
Vilma Koivisto, IFK Norrköping
Ria Öling, FC Rosengård
Emmi Alanen, Kristianstads DFF
San Francisco, Real Sociedad
Kaisa Collin, Eskilstuna United
Linda Sällström, Vittsjö GIK
Jutta Rantala, Vittsjö GIK
Heidi Kollanen, KIF Örebro
Jenny Danielsson, Glasgow Rangers
Helmareit’s February matches can be seen in Areena.