The match between Finland and Bosnia-Herzegovina ended with a disappointing 1-1 draw at the end. Finland scored Teemu Pukki stated to Sport that perhaps the Owners “just didn’t deserve to win.”
– There was good stuff in the game, but we didn’t get our game rolling. We had to defend, especially in the second half, pretty much. Then, when the pressure is hard, there will be a lot of goals, Pukki said.
Still players and head coach Markku Kanerva seemed moderately satisfied in the interviews after the match. There is a generational change in the owls and the young players performed to their advantage.
– The game snaps the pieces into place. Every guy took care of his box well. The young people are coming from there and hopefully moving forward at a faster pace, Captain Owls Lukas Hradecky said and grinned.
After a hairy draw, Finland’s 32-year-old goalie’s sense of humor was enough to blacken even younger players.
As central defenders in Saturday night’s match, they started as expected Daniel O’Shaughnessy (27 years), Robert Ivanov (27) and Leo Väisänen (24). Somewhat surprisingly, there was also an opening lineup Urho Nissilä (26).
– Pretty kind of observation match. Going into the 1-0 lead led to more defensive play. The field was a bit difficult today and our strengths were not highlighted. It tastes like hair, but it wasn’t a bad match, Hradecky said.
Head coach Kanerva said after the match, Huuhkajie went through the first half. The good thing was how the team got to the breaking point.
In the first half, Finland managed to pass a lot on the field and a few times the ball was played behind the defense line.
For example Robin Lod (29) scored from the penalty spot, but Teemu Pukki’s shot went wide. The goal came from just the kind of attack Kanerva described in the interview.
Kanerva regretted Bosnia-Herzegovina’s handicap. In his opinion, topper Ivanovia was violated in the situation before the goal.
According to Kanerva, however, Finland should have been more successful in the counterattacks.
– The defense game as a whole was so familiar, just fine. Keeping an opponent away from the finish line requires a uniform defensive game for the entire team, and above all a sacrificial one, Kanerva summed up.
The group was also 5–3–2 favored by head coach Kanerva; defense, midfield, attack. For example, on the right side “wing-backina” started the match Nikolai Alho (29) told Sport he liked the group.
According to Alho, the players dared to hold the ball, challenge their opponents and feed the ball into small spaces. He said the game showed “a lot of things we wanted, although there was still room for improvement.”
– Me and Jere (Uronen) we aim to squeeze higher on their side defenders. We knew there was a danger in the back then. But we were confident that the toppers would come to the rescue. We succeeded really well in the plan today from time to time.
Kanerva: “The line-up will definitely come to life here”
Finland will play four matches in 11 days, one of which is now behind. Next up is the Montenegro match in Finland, but after that there are travel games ahead. First in Romania, then in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
– We still have three matches ahead, so the line-up will definitely come to life here. If we think about substitutions for the next match, Teemu Pukki, Robin Lod and Rasmus Schüller… We don’t want to take the risk of injury at this point, Kanerva pondered the upcoming match.
In addition to Kanerva, Nikolai Alho believed in turnover in the line-up and added that there is a “quality bundle and a lot of hungry players who didn’t play today”. Goalkeeper Teemu Pukki was also pleased that there are a lot of players involved.
– I noticed during the match that the long season is down. A little out of power at the end. However, for about long periods and good, that is able to recycle. There will certainly be strength then on Tuesday as well, Pukki said.
In the second match of the Finnish block, Montenegro won the Romanian goal 2–0 late Saturday night. Finland’s games will continue on Tuesday with a home game against Montenegro. The live broadcast on TV2 will start at 6.15 pm and the match will start at 7 pm.
The summer matches of the Finnish national football teams and the European Women’s Championships will be seen on ‘s channels. Watch the Owners match program here.
See the match summary for the Finland – Bosnia and Herzegovina match.
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A bitter 1–1 draw for the owls – a last-minute setback left Markku Kanerva wondering: “It could have whistled”
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