You can watch the first half match between Holland and Finland today on TV2 from 19:55. Second leg next Wednesday the 17th in Vantaa on TV2 from 18:10.
The Finnish men’s futsal team was able to try for the first World Cup place in history in December 2020, but the dream was shattered when Serbia was better in the further qualifiers with a total of 6–5. Now there is a new opportunity, when the Netherlands will compete in the two-part qualifier.
The first game is on Saturday night in Almere, and the decisive match is next Wednesday in Vantaa.
Finland is seventh in the European ranking and Holland is 13th, so even purely in light of the numbers, Finland has every chance of succeeding in its goal and claiming a ticket to the final tournament to be played in September-October in Uzbekistan. Finland got a little lucky, as the sixth ranked Croatia and the ninth ranked Poland would have been more difficult opponents from the start.
The Netherlands cleared its way to the further qualifications by reaching second place in the group, which was taken by the European Four’s Kazakhstan without losing any points. Romania and Azerbaijan were clearly behind.
Finland’s strengths have traditionally been related to a wide range of materials, strong pressing and special situations. They want to be included against the Netherlands as well.
– You have to be calm in the press, because they have smart friends. We have practiced scoring goals, and in every area we have to succeed in order to get to the games, one of Finland’s top players Sergei Korsunov32, states.
Another conker, belonging to the captaincy Jukka Kytölä, 35, has been one of Finland’s leading credit players for years. He expects Holland to hit hard in front of the home crowd.
– Surely they want to show at home and get a good result, so that they don’t necessarily have to win in Finland next week. We have to move the ball and find a depth element to attack behind their backs, Kytölä reflects.
– It will certainly be tough from the beginning, but I would see that we are prepared and the players have been in good shape at the preparation camp.
According to Kytölä, the parquet in the arcade is a bit tight, but you get used to everything.
– The hall is big, and there will certainly be a lot of audience. The ball seemed to move quite well and the surface is good, but it is a small advantage for the home team when they are used to playing on it.
After turmoil and objections
After the further qualifiers against Serbia, Finland participated in the EC final tournament in Holland two years ago, and the great performances took the team’s previous head coach by Mico Martic in the lead until the quarterfinals. Italian Sergio Gargelli in the two-year era, the grips have fluctuated, and the big wins in the qualifying games have been around.
It has also caused concern in the team, and for example world champion Portugal won clear victories over Finland both at home and away.
There has also been a stir and turmoil around Finland, because of the star players Miika Hosio and playing in Spain’s top team Inter Movistar Jani Korpela was left out of the team at the end of last year. Among them, Korpela is now involved in the qualifying group.
Korsunov assures that the team’s atmosphere is good during the important qualifying games.
– Things have been reviewed and things are ok. We are all friends and most people here are really good friends with each other. The team has a really good spirit.
Finland made it to the further qualifiers after special twists and turns, as Georgia and Armenia, who played in the same qualifying group, were interpreted to have broken the rules of the European football association Uefa by playing Brazilian players without representation rights. Finland lost an away game to Georgia and the points were shared at home in Turku, but through the cabinet, Finland won four games against Armenia and Georgia.
In the end, the last match was not even played, because Armenia announced that it would not make the Christmas away trip to Finland.
Read more: Comment: Finland’s World Cup qualification turned out to be a sad mess – futsal’s success boom is now a distant memory
The qualifying match against Serbia has been postponed Justus Kunnas25, to mind, even though the man from Akaa Futsal wasn’t on the field yet.
– Those who saw that game remember those broken faces on the field or on the sidelines. After all, there will be such a fire that you don’t want that kind of situation again.
– These are games with a small margin and I believe we have experience. That’s how we get those little things turned around so that things go the other way around.
According to Kunnas, Finland must avoid all unnecessary risks under the pressure of the Dutch public.
– We must know how to play under pressure, and we must have humility. This is an 80-minute affair where all goals decide.
“The tension was greater in the end”
For Sergei Korsunov, who has recovered from his injuries, playing in the World Cup would be the crowning glory of a long career.
– The burn is great, and for me this is perhaps the last chance, when the games are played only every four years. We have tried to convey to younger people that these are quite unique moments.
Kytölä advises that, based on the camp, Finland’s scoring is fine.
– Now we don’t put unnecessary pressure, but a few players have been in a really strong mood at the camp. Last time, when we were in the further qualification, the tension was greater. Now we know what kind of event is coming and what it takes to get to the next stage.
Finnish fans traveled comfortably to the European Championships in Holland two years ago, and the team is getting support on the spot today as well. The home game in Vantaa is already almost sold out.
Finland needs all the support behind it to make the World Cup dream come true.
– Absolutely amazing thing. Public support is really meaningful. It’s certainly quite full in Holland, and our heads are starting to be full too, Kunnas says.