will show Huuhkajie’s EC qualifiers on its channels. Live broadcast of the Denmark match on Thursday from 21:00 on TV2, Areena and the app. The match starts at 21:45.
The atmosphere in the lobby of a hotel in Copenhagen has relaxed. The EC qualifiers will start soon and there is enthusiasm and anticipation in the air. The strict corona restrictions of summer 2021 are gone.
Teemu Pukin and Lukas Hradecky the joint interview is about to start, but the Huuhkajie captain is nowhere to be seen.
– Probably a bigger emergency, Pukki says with a laugh.
Soon Hradecky arrives and familiar laughter fills the hotel lobby.
The two sit on the chairs and start reminiscing about their time together in the jersey of the Copenhagen club Bröndby in the 2014-2015 season.
A message on Facebook
Teemu Pukki had moved to the Scottish giant Celtic in August 2013. He had hit right away in his first match and home debut, but drifted into the spring season as a substitute.
– There was a message from Celtic that they should get a new club, Pukki recalls.
That’s when national team goalkeeper Hradecky stepped in to help.
– It’s a bit like Luke bought me in Denmark. They put a message on Facebook or somewhere that their coach would be interested, Pukki laughs.
Soon Bröndby was also in contact with the Finn’s agent.
Pukki says that he thought about whether he would like to go to Denmark. After all, before Celtic he had played in both Sevilla and Schalke.
– I am really happy that I came. Brondby was practically the first club where I was the first striker… When I got here, a lot of responsibility came immediately. There were good coaches, I got a lot of minutes and my career took off in a different way.
When Pukki arrived in Copenhagen, he lived with his national team mate Hradecky for the first months.
– I was a helping hand, an essu, a housewife and a big brother, Hradecky enumerates.
Before the same club team, the two knew each other from national team meetings, but they could not be described as close friends.
– It probably says something that Luke got in touch on Facebook, Pukki laughs.
– Yes, I didn’t have Teme’s number, it didn’t give it to anyone. For best friends only! Hradecky knocks.
However, the two found common ground quickly. The days were spent in training and at home. In the evenings, Hradecky prepared a delicious dinner.
But what did the Finnish duo like to do in their free time?
– Well, what is the daily life of a lazy futaia! We are not world healers. After training, we sit on the couch with both left hands in braces and watch our own machines or TV shows, Hradecky grunts.
After three months, Pukki got his own apartment.
– Yes, I quite often came to Luke’s dinner table even after that, Pukki admits.
It wasn’t the only time when Pukki lived with Hradecky. The following summer, the Finnish attacker’s rental apartment was sold, and help was found in a familiar place.
– Again I went to the familiar and safe Luke’s guest room. It took a few months to live there again.
The national team as a life hole
Nowadays, the two mostly meet at national team meetings. The national team is important to Puk and Hradecky.
– This has always been a kind of mental hole. If it has been difficult in the club team, you have always known that when you come here, you get a good feeling. I got a little extra from here, after which it was easier to go back and the results have also come in my own gang, Pukki opens and continues.
– I hope this gives me strength for the rest of the season, I’ve had a bit more difficult early season.
Puki’s club team Norwich is currently sixth in the English Championship. The goal of the club, which was relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season, was of course to quickly return to the main league, but the season has been challenging. David Wagner replaced the one who coached the team for almost a year at the beginning of January Dean Smith’s.
Pukki says he likes the new messenger.
– I have been satisfied, it has been really good to do things under him. But the season has not gone as we would have hoped. There is room for improvement both individually and as a team. Of course, the goal was to get back to the Premier League and that is still possible.
In February, the Finnish striker missed three matches due to injury, but during the opening match of the EC qualifiers, he assures that he is completely fit.
– It was nothing out of the ordinary. It’s starting to get a little old as a football player, Pukki laughs.
The Finnish striker does not yet have a contract for next season.
– We have really liked being here in Norwich. One of the children is in school, the other in daycare. This is a good place for a family to be. But I haven’t given next season a more terrible thought. We’ll see how this goes.
Quitting not in mind
The European football championships will be played next summer in Germany. Pukki has already turned 34, as has Hradecky, who wears the captain’s armband in the national team.
In the duo’s opinion, the years have hardly changed their personalities.
– Luke has certainly gotten older and things have gotten worse… But as a person, I don’t see much change, Pukki laughs.
– Parenthood has probably changed Teemu the most in a more mature and calm direction. Teemu has never been stressed about anything, but nowadays even less.
But will the EC qualifiers starting on Thursday be the duo’s last?
– This gives so much that it is unlikely that these qualifiers will be the last. As long as the invitation is valid and you are allowed to come here… Social life is to some extent tough, here, on the other hand, you can somehow have peace of mind, Hradecky formulates.
– Let’s go through the qualifiers one at a time and then see if we still have energy. Always a pleasure to come here, let’s see how long this lasts. Now these qualifiers begin, which will hopefully be followed by the European Championships.