Joanna Tynnilän The season starts with a bang, but the Finnish top scorer is not nervous about defending the best in the world. Brann, represented by Tynnilä, challenges Barcelona in the quarterfinals of the women’s Champions League.
– We haven’t prepared for that game in any way yet. We are focused on the opening of the league season. We want to play with our own style of play, no matter who is in front, Tynnilä states coldly.
The challenge is tough, because Barcelona entertains world stars like Caroline Graham Hansen, Fridolina Rolfö, Lucy Bronze, Salma Parallel life, Esmee Brugts. Fence Bonmati was awarded last year’s best in almost every gala. Alexia Putellas grab the best player awards in 2021 and 2022.
– So it’s nice for a defender when you can start playing without prejudice. I believe that you will learn a lot from those games and the experience will certainly be great.
Barcelona is the reigning champion of the Euro tournament. In last year’s final match, the Spanish club defeated German Wolfsburg 3–2. Since that final, Barcelona has not lost a single game: 35 matches, 33 wins and two draws.
– The post-secondary position requires great success, but I trust that it is possible, Tynnilä says.
Tickets for Brann’s home game were sold out in eight minutes. The team will face Barcelona in front of 3,700 supporters on Wednesday, March 20. The second leg will be played on the 28th.
The Champions League is a tough school
In the group stage, Tynnilä played the full minutes except for one match. The away game in Lyon was Brann’s only loss. Brann lost to the French club 1–3. Tynnilä, who started the match with a cast in his hand, was substituted in the 43rd minute of the game.
In Lyon matches, he often got to defend – also awarded as the best in the world – Ada Hegerberg. In the home match, Brann took a point from Lyon, who won the Champions League eight times, with a 2–2 result.
– If you succeed in those matches, you gain a lot of self-confidence. Of course, it’s a good measure for myself, how far I am from the world’s top level.
– In the Champions League, I have gotten better at the fast tempo and physicality of the game. In general, increasing the intensity of one’s own playing is a near-term goal, Tynnilä evaluates the European games.
Brann advanced to the playoffs as the second in the group, when the team collected 13 points from six matches.
In Norway, the league season started last weekend. In the opening of the season, Brann succumbed to a 2–4 defeat at the hands of Lilleström.
Tynnilä played the whole match as usual. In Lilleström’s composition, the same number of people familiar from the Finnish national team worked as well Oona Siren and Emma Peuhkurinenwhich also shook a beautiful goal.
Moved to Brann for the last season Nanne Ruuskanen is still on the sidelines due to injury. He last played at the beginning of September.
Kosola has also been given responsibility in the Euro fields
He also plays in the quarter-finals of the Champions League Katriina Kosola represented by the Swedish club Häcken.
Häcken, who lost the Swedish League’s tight championship fight to Hammarby last year, has started the season strongly. In the western neighbor, the matches have started with cup games. Häcken has won both of his two matches. The team’s goal difference is 10–1.
In the Champions League, the opponent is the French giant Paris Saint-Germain. Kosola is expecting a great, but challenging playoff match.
– I hope the room is full, because we have been strong at home. Home games always have a good atmosphere and a lot of spectators – that gives energy, Kosola says.
In the group stage, Häcken lost only to English Chelsea at home. The team progressed as second in the group after collecting 11 points from six matches. Kosola played full minutes in all games.
Häcken progressed to the quarter-finals somewhat unexpectedly, after the French Paris FC and the Spanish Real Madrid were left behind. PSG should be sent to the choir next.
– They have a really famous team with fast and strong players. I believe that our tight defensive game and carefulness in the goal positions give us very good seams.
He is most looking forward to facing PSG Sakina Karchauoin and Tabitha Chawingan. Both of them wave towards Häcken’s end on the edge of Kosola.
– You have to anticipate and read situations. If I can’t do it at speed, I have to be a little smarter, Kosola anticipates a blunder.
The opening match between the pair will be played at the sold-out Häcken home stadium in Gothenburg, which has a capacity of 6,300 spectators. The matches between Häcken and PSG will also be played on March 20 and 28.
The spring of big bets
Kosola and Tynnilä have great contributions at the club level, but the situation is not much easier in national team circles. Finland starts the EC qualifiers at the beginning of April. First up is an away match in Norway.
– Not really nervous, but I secretly hoped that we would meet Norway. I haven’t really known any opponents in national matches so far, but now I also meet gang friends, Tynnilä says.
Brann players who have appeared in the Norwegian national team recently include, among others Justine Kielland, Marthine Östenstad and Aurora Mikalsen.
After the Norway game, Finland will face Italy in Helsinki on April 9. Holland also plays in the same group. For example, the head coach Marko Saloranta estimates that the Finnish group is tough, but not the worst possible. Tynnilä thinks the same.
– Guarding players and getting to the ball first are really important. It would also be important to play well in the press, so that we get possession of the ball higher up, so that we don’t have to defend in a low block, Tynnilä emphasizes the role of the defensive game in the European Championship qualifiers.
Tynnilä played one match in last fall’s Nations League. At the end of February in the Pinatar Cup, however, he played the 90 minutes in each of the three matches. Finland beat Scotland in a penalty shootout in the final match of the tournament.
– When I have been given a big role in the Champions League, the confidence in the national team is also in place. After I have played some matches in the national team, I feel that I am ready for a bigger role. At the same time, I know that the competitive situation is tight, Tynnilä says.