England and Finland meet at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium on Sunday at 19:00. Live broadcast of the match on TV2, Areena and the app from 18:15.
The Finnish men’s national football team has been the subject of heavy criticism after losing 1-2 to Ireland at home in the Nations League. Huuhkajat has won only one match this year, a home match against Estonia in the spring. In seven matches together, the Huuhkajats have conceded no less than 18 goals and scored only eight themselves.
Belonging to the more experienced guard of Huahkaji Jere Uronen according to the team, external criticism has not been dealt with much.
– You have to have thick skin if you want to make football your profession. It’s great that there is criticism. It means that we are cared for and encouraged. All those who give criticism hope that we will make it, Uronen described bluntly in a TV interview on Saturday.
Criticism also came after the Ireland match at OIympiastadion from the Northern Kaarte, i.e. the most die-hard fans. They booed the fans before moving into a more conciliatory round of applause. From Pohjoikaarte, you could also hear insults tinged with profanity towards Pallloliito.
– The team, backgrounds and fans, we all do this together. We’re all trying to get by together. The appreciation from within the team towards all the fans is really great. It is easy to say that no one is more disappointed than the players if the results are bad, Uronen stated.
The head coach of Huahkaji Markku Kanerva reminded at the press conference that no one is as disappointed as the team itself. The team itself had high expectations for the Ireland match.
According to Kanerva, it was up to the smallest detail that the game would have turned to Finland. Now the events of the match have been analyzed.
– I heard that somewhere there was talk of a collapse. I don’t know what that meant then. Game-wise as a whole, I didn’t see a big collapse. Didn’t get the ball in the goal at the end. A minute passed, and the opponent scored the winning goal. If it was a collapse then…, Kanerva commented on external criticism.
Kanerva admits that of course the loss shocked the team. He understands that the media and fans are disappointed.
– We have to withstand future criticism. It shouldn’t go too far into the head. We need to focus on what is essential. How do we move the process forward? We have to believe that the process will bring results, Kanerva said.
The word process has been repeated a lot in Huuhkajie’s speeches this fall. Now Kanerva described that the process after the changes made to the coaching team and the players takes time.
– I hope that the process and the results will come together sooner or later. The main goal is to get to the World Cup. That is the hardest goal of all. We are working on it. Now it’s a good time to see how we do against the top country in the world, Kanerva said and pointed to the next Nations League match.
The squealers have strong cravings for the screen
Finland will meet England on Sunday at the Olympic Stadium.
Greece took a surprise victory over England on Thursday. The English reporters tried to get the Finnish team to know about the result of that match. The Finnish players responded realistically, but also hoping for a surprise.
In ‘s TV interview, Kanerva hoped that the Finnish team would again be able to perform the miracles it had shown earlier in its history.
According to Jere Uronen, the desire for screen in the team is now strong. He sets the mood to play against one of the world’s best teams in a full Olympic Stadium.
How can England be undermined?
– By being yourself. Of course we have to be a more active party. We need to run more and win the duels. We have to play with confidence. We have the skill. It’s almost as much as they have. Self-confidence is all about development, Uronen answered in the TV interview.
Uronen, who worked as a winger, has been left with little responsibility in Huuhkaj recently. He has played the sixth most international matches in the current group, but has only played in one international match this year. Uronen played 45 minutes in September against Sunday’s opponent, England.
Uronen admits that little responsibility is frustrating.
– It’s pointless for me to lie. No athlete wants to sit on the bench, but let’s try to focus on what we can control. I do my best in training and games. As a team, we do this work together. I try to bring something to it, Uronen says.
Topi Keskinen was asked about the tattoo again
More positive news from Finnish football was expected on Friday evening, when the under-21 men’s national team struggled in the European Championship qualifiers against Switzerland.
Finland led until the very last moments of the away match, until Switzerland equalized. Finland is still fighting for a direct continuation place.
Belonging to the hopes of the future of Huhkaki Top Middle could still play in Pikkuhuuhkaj for his age. According to Keskinen, Huuhkajat watched the match as a group. The atmosphere in the grandstand had been on the roof until Switzerland’s equalizing goal.
– They played really well. They deserved to win. It was a shame after the game. A really nasty setback came at the end, Keskinen described.
He admitted that he is interested in playing in the European Championships next summer, if the Pikkuhuuhkajat achieves a rare place in the competition.
Keskinen, who dazzled in the away match against England at Wembley in mid-September, also got to experience perhaps the most special question of the press conference.
An English journalist was interested to hear about Keskinen’s tattoo. Fishing and Wayne Rooney’s the unifying tattoo emerged again, as in September’s national matches.
– My mother is an Everton supporter. Rooney played there. Rooney was a bit like an idol for me. I watched highlights of his games. I also like fishing. It’s my two favorite things combined, Keskinen said.
He also revealed that he has never met English football legend Rooney. Would it be a dream to meet him?
– Yes, Keskinen, representing Scottish Aberdeen, answered.
England and Finland meet at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium on Sunday at 19:00. Live broadcast of the match on TV2, Areena and the app from 18:15.