Huhkajat won a massive victory, but there was a lot of panic in the playing – the expert found three good things and the king of the field

The Finnish men’s national football team picked up a massively important opening victory of the EC qualifiers in Belfast on Sunday evening. Finland had lost at Windsor Park in the 1984 World Cup qualifiers, the 1998 European Championship qualifiers and the 2015 European Championship qualifiers.

Destroyed in Finland’s midfield Rasmus Schuller pointed out in the interview that the first qualifying win in history as a guest of Northern Ireland was not really a “normal day at the office”.

In the Finnish group, there is supposed to be a lot of cross-play. Finland (56th), Northern Ireland (59th) and Slovenia (62nd) are also very close in the Fifa ranking. Kazakhstan (115th) made a big splash on Sunday by rising from a 0–2 loss position to a 3–2 victory against Denmark (18th).

Read more: Miracle of Astana! Kazakhstan came from behind by two goals and knocked out the EC group favorite Denmark – according to the expert, Denmark’s defeat suits Finland

Sports expert Jonne Kunnas reminded of the often-heard starting point that you win at home and at least you must not lose to your main opponents away from home.

– Now that Huuhkajat managed to take three points from one of their main opponents away from home, it’s a really big advantage going forward.

The win over Northern Ireland came through the most difficult of times. The match was full of fighting, mayhem and even panic. However, let’s start with positive things, the most significant of which Kunnas divided into three points.

1. Rasmus Schuller

At the club level, Rasmus Schüller, representing the Swedish Djurgården, played a great match. He was sidelined for the Denmark game because of the flu. That’s when the expert Kunnas stated that Finland’s game did not fall due to Schüller’s absence or Kairinen too for a performance in the midfield.

Now, however, Schüller again showed his value in the heart of the Huuhkajie midfield. Communication specialist for the Swedish Football Association Roni Raunola your tweet (you will go to another service)that Schüller made ten interceptions against Northern Ireland, won ten duels and distributed eight successful passes to the final attacking third.

– Schüller was clearly the best player on the field and brought a lot more to Huuhkajie’s play. First of all, how big his importance is defensively. Schüller is able to defend a large area, win one-on-one battles and read the opponent’s passes to create a pass break.

– Schüller, on the other hand, is the one in the Finnish game who knows how to create rhythm and calm down the ball.

2. Defending the win

The worst “panic phase” of the Finnish game was seen at the beginning of the second period. It lasted at least until the 70th minute.

In the end, however, Finland defended strongly. For example, in the seven minutes of additional time given by the referee, Northern Ireland could not create any scoring chances.

– It consisted of how well Finland handled the defense in the low block and was also able to keep the ball at times at the end, Kunnas summed up.

3. Situation change threat

According to expert Kunnas, Finland’s counter-attacking has developed. Already in the Denmark match there were indications of it, but then the head coach Markku Kanervak criticizes the weak final solutions of the Finnish players, which were thwarted by the attacks.

There were indications of the same against Northern Ireland.

– The whistleblowers have a threat to change the situation and clear actions that Finland could be dangerous. The last passes and solutions were just weak. However, what gives me hope is that it is possible to see what could happen in counterattacks. It’s easier to turn it into something good than not seeing anything, Kunnas reflected.

The changes made by Kanerva have to be added as a positive result. For example, HJK’s 20-year-old Matti Peltola got into a tough spot. He was switched to left tackle by Richard Jensen replaced in the 52nd minute. The national A match was Peltola’s second in his career, and his first in the qualifiers.

Peltola is not even a winger by training, but a midfield player. In HJK, he has also played as topper.

– All the players who came from the exchange did very well, Kunnas pointed out.

– Good success from Peltola to a really tight place. Especially in the defensive direction, but he was also able to calm down the game in the offensive direction.

Try Soiri came on the field in the 70th minute and was on the left side of the midfield a lot on the ball, until he played the end of the match as a right winger. Marcus Forss your ear Teemu Pukin In the 70th minute, and didn’t get much of the ball, but disrupted Northern Ireland’s opening with his aggressive pressing.

“There are panic-like moods”

After listing the positive things, it’s clear that Huuhkajat really didn’t perform his best. The game had a lot of problems both up and down.

During the break of the match, Kunnas hoped that Finland would not join the chaos. Even in the opening period, there was a lot of back-and-forth, and Finland did not succeed in its press. In this case, Northern Ireland was able to concentrate a lot, and it was known to be the strength of the team.

“Finland would have everything it takes to take control of the ball more and defend with the ball, prevent counterattacks and give Northern Ireland less time with the ball,” Kunnas said during the break.

However, the second period started completely with Northern Ireland. in the 56th minute By Josh Magennis a volley shot from the top spot blew over. In the 62nd minute, a dangerous cross bounced Leo Väisänen foot over own goal. From the ensuing corner kick Dion Charles shot the ball into the goal, but luckily for Huuhkajie, he took possession of the ball with his hand before that.

At that point, Kunnas stated that “now there is a panic-like atmosphere”.

1. The challenges of attacking

Finland could not calm down the game by holding the ball. That’s why Northern Ireland was able to blame the high ball on the Finnish defense line too often. Finland gave up the ball very easily, while Northern Ireland gave even a little pressure.

– There were big difficulties in attacking, both in advancing and in creating a goal-scoring position. The distances between the players were large both in width and length, and because of that it was difficult to move the ball. The game went easily for vertical play. When the distances got bigger, the field balance was bad, which again caused more dangerous counterattacks for the opponent.

2. Defense challenges

– Northern Ireland was weak. That’s why they didn’t accomplish more. It was not the goodness of Finland. Boxing still had problems with placing and winning the second balls. This is a big thing considering the games in June, Kunnas repeated the same problem point that was striking in the loss to Denmark.

Attacking problems caused panic in the second period, but according to Kunnas, there were also problems with Finland’s defensive formation. Northern Ireland can progress too easily.

– Even though boxing’s defense is weak, it is not the only reason for the problems. Finland should be able to prevent the opponent from advancing earlier, so that the opponent doesn’t get so many chances at all.