The Finnish men’s national football team has recently received harsh criticism from both experts and the media.
In particular, Huuhkajie’s gameplay has garnered criticism. According to experts, Finland’s playing has been characterized by ambiguity and uncertainty.
After the Ireland match, the Huuhkajie supporter Pohjoikaarre also showed their frustration with whistles and curse words to the Balloliito. Paine head coach Markku Kanervaa towards has grown even more.
Last spring, the chairman of the Swedish Football Association Ari Lahti said that the Football Association has surveyed head coach candidates. According to Lahti, the task was of interest “even in the world”.
The head coach was surveyed by the Sports Director of the Finnish Football Association Aki Hyryläinenresearch and development manager Ville-Pekka InkiläLahti and general secretary Marco Casagrande. In the end, as is well known, it was decided to give Kanerva an extension contract until the World Cup tournament in 2026.
Aki Hyryläinen, the Sports Director of the Football Association, visited ‘s studio before the start of the England match.
He understands the fans’ reaction.
– I think it’s very natural. We ourselves have set a certain expectation value with good game performances, led by “Rive”. And of course people come to see success in the experience business. You have to remember that there are ups and downs in sports. Now we’re looking for something new. And as in the recruitment of Rive and the new team, a change has been sought, Hyryläinen told Urheilu.
The experts’ analysis is correct
Experts Toni Koskela and Miika Nuutinen reviewed that there is no leading idea in Finland’s moves and the principles of the game are lost. Were you aware of how Finland is going to develop the way of playing in the Nations League with the renewed coaching leadership?
– Very aware. Of course, our coaching and the head coach outline how we play. We went through it during the recruitment phase. We will publish our international analysis for a period of six years, from which we also took excerpts during the recruitment phase, what we expect from the national team in the future in terms of playing. Of course, the national team and the head coach are responsible for the style of play.
– But Messrs. Koskela and Nuutinen’s analysis is extremely good. It is also correct. We want to push more. Of course, we want special situation play on both ends (to improve). We still get a lot of goals from the back corner as we saw against Ireland.
Hyryläinen admits that the Huuhkaji still have some game-wise to develop. He compares the Huuhkajie’s situation to the under-21 national team and Mika Lehkosuo to the progress of the project.
– He’s on the verge of achieving something great at the moment. I think we are in the same situation as Rive and the new team. We have to remember that we also have new players coming all the time, says Hyryläinen.
Pikkuhuhkajat will at least advance to the European Championship further qualification if they beat Montenegro on Tuesday in Tammela.
According to the director of sports, Finland wants to create goal chances from places with a higher goal expectation. We also want longer attacks to end in a goal more than now.
Is the player material enough?
Hyryläinen hesitates when asked about the adequacy of Finland’s player material for the style of play desired in the analysis. He says there are a lot of moving parts.
– The starting point is that these players who play in the national team, young or old, must get playing time (in club teams). They need to arrive ready to perform in our style of play. This is also the same thing in the youth national team.
– So it varies a bit. In my opinion, Rive chooses players to a great extent also based on how the players get playing time in their own club teams, so this is not so clear-cut.
The Football Association is not satisfied with the results
Huuhkajat ended up with a rare solution when it changed its assistant coach and decided to continue with head coach Markku Kanerva. Hyryläinen says that the selection was based on an analysis. Hyryläinen also says that he has worked really hard and talked with people across the board.
– Rive has a strong ability to lead results through people. He knows the players, he knows the current national team players. Of course, he has success behind him, but the past is not always a guarantee of the future. Of course we are working forward and we are not satisfied with this situation in the League of Nations.
– We think that under Kanerva’s leadership, the new team brings a certain objectivity to the existing and new players. I believe that they also bring some kind of challenge to Rive’s thinking about the past, and this has also happened.
Were other coach candidates than Kanerva interviewed?
– As I said, this is a high-class recruitment. Usually, these processes are not terribly talked about. So I’m disappointing those of you who are interested. Unfortunately, I won’t say much more about this.
The losing streak is on, and in Pallioliito you emphasized change. Do you feel responsible in this situation, that Finland is about to have a historically long losing streak, the people are starting to protest and maybe the boom that has been around the Huuhkajie is evaporating?
– Of course, my job description is to experience responsibility for the development of Finnish football. But I don’t feel guilty about this either. In a way, this process is in progress. Of course, we will certainly analyze this matter after this window. We will certainly analyze which players are available before the start of the World Cup qualifiers.
Will Markku Kanerva be the head coach of the Finnish national team when the World Cup qualifiers begin?
– This is where we start, that is.