The preparation period for the helmets has contained challenges, but the team expects an equal struggle in the further qualifiers.
Anni Jämsä,
Hinn Hirvonen
15:36•Updated 15:51
On Friday, the Finnish women’s national football team will face Scotland in the opening part of the decisive pair of matches of the EC further qualification in Edinburgh. The live broadcast of the match starts on TV2, Areena and the app on Friday at 21:15.
Helmare’s preparation for the EC further qualification has progressed in varying degrees. The team trained in Holland before arriving in Edinburgh, so that the conditions would be as good as possible and the content of the training would remain hidden from the opponent.
However, illness and health concerns have been a nuisance, which is why Katariina Kosola is sidelined for Friday’s match.
– Not an ideal situation by any means, but we have done everything we can. There have been setbacks before, and we have a strong group that can react to them, Finland’s head coach Marko Saloranta commented to Urheilu below the match.
The team has been impatiently waiting for the crucial further qualifiers, and the players expect the pair of matches to be exceptionally even.
– We are teams of the same level. Maybe for the first time there is a feeling that you are not starting as underdogs, but not as sure winners either, midfielder Eveliina Summanen pondered.
Also an AC Milan defender Emma Koivisto believes that the further qualifications will progress evenly. Club teammate Christy Grimshaw is not in the Scottish group, but has opened up about his home country.
– He was of the opinion that the Scottish camp is also really excited about this game. I don’t think we’re considered throwaways there.
The teams also met in the previous EC qualifiers in 2020. At that time, Finland beat Summanen and Amanda Rantanen with goals in both home and away matches with a score of 1–0 and finally progressed directly to the EC final tournament as the winner of the qualifying group. Scotland was out of the Games.
Forward of Helmarein and Vittsjö GIK Linda Sällström is sure that past encounters have not been forgotten in Scotland.
– They definitely want a rematch, and I would like to be in their position. However, if we look at the statistics, they are on our side. We know we’ve beaten them before and we can do it again.
Finland and Scotland have met at A international level 14 times before, and Finland’s balance from these matches is 9 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses with a goal difference of 23–13.
New coaching groups
After the previous EC qualifiers, significant changes have taken place in both teams. Spanish pilot Pedro Martinez Losa started as Scotland’s head coach in 2021, and Marko Saloranta took over the Helmariten bet a year ago in January.
According to Koivisto, Scotland’s game has diversified with the Spanish coach.
– In the attacking end, they used to play quite a lot only behind the line and relied on physics, nowadays they try to control the ball more. The new backgrounds have brought the style of play favored by the Spanish to Scotland.
Kuikka, on the other hand, highlights the versatile individual skills of the Scots, which is highlighted precisely in the team’s attacks.
– They are really skilled players. They can score goals from long range but also have a good tip. You have to be careful with the centers in your own box, so that they don’t get to shoot freely and score goals.
Finland aims to attack Scotland’s weaknesses, which are found on the defensive end.
– Their defenders are not the fastest in the world. They are strong in the air, but their feet are not that fast, Koivisto sums up.
Things to improve in away fields
Recently, the Finnish game has struggled on away grounds. In the first group of the EC qualifiers, the Helmaris lost all their away matches: 0–4 to Italy and Norway and 0–1 to the Netherlands.
According to head coach Marko Saloranna, the away matches also started well, but the difficult moments stretched on too long.
– Even now, there will certainly be a tough first quarter ahead. However, we have been able to start well against top teams. When there have been moments on the home field when we have to suffer, they have been short.
– In the away games, on the other hand, there have been longer stretches, when we are the winning side. It has to be better now.
The decisive second leg of the European Championship place will be played on Tuesday in Helsinki. Koivisto likes the order of the matches.
– It’s hard to say whether there is an advantage to the arrangement or not. However, I am really satisfied with that, that we get to play the last game in front of the home crowd and then secure a place in the competition there.