Finland meets England on Sunday 13.10. at 7 p.m. Broadcast on TV2, Areena and the app from 6:15 p.m.
The season of the Finnish men’s national football team in the B-league of the Nations League has been ravenous. Huuhkajat is still without points after three matches, after it experienced a stinging home defeat on Thursday night against Ireland at the Olympic Stadium.
Huuhkajat has received criticism from both experts and fans for their recent performances. After the Ireland match, Huuhkajie’s supporter end Pohjoikaarre showed their frustration with whistles and also swear words to the Palloliito.
The head coach of Huahkaji Markku Kanerva received a new extension contract in June, which will last until the possible 2026 WC final tournament. President of the Football Association Ari Lahti does not consider the extension contract to be a mistake.
– I don’t believe this. However, our main goal is the World Cup qualifiers in the next year. We have set out to work towards that and that’s what we were thinking about when we hired Kanerva’s extension wash, Lahti tells Urheilu.
Lahti trusts Kanerva
Lahti admits that he cannot be completely satisfied with the performances and results of the Nations League. He considers it important to do well in the Nations League, as the results are important for things like future draw baskets.
– I’m not saying that I’m satisfied with the zero points received. On the contrary, but the main focus and main goal is that we do as well as possible in the World Cup qualifiers.
So do you still have faith that the course will turn around under Kanerva’s leadership?
– Yes.
In an interview with STT, Lahti stated that there is no visible change in the coaching situation. Finland plays against England on Sunday.
– Sunday’s game will come quickly, but I hope that we will already see some development in November. The coaching team is the same (for the November game), no change, Lahti told STT.
Reminds me of patience
Lahti doesn’t know how to take a deeper view of Huuhkajie’s gaming problems, but he reminds us to be patient. According to Lahti, Huuhkajat is currently going through a certain kind of face wash when it brings in its new coaching team.
– Even in the Ireland game, we had three players who could fit in the under-21 national team at the opening. It tells that such a generational change is going on. At the same time, of course, the coaching team has also been renewed.
– We are at a stage where you have to be patient and believe that change for the better is on its way.
Coaching needed new perspectives
Before recruiting its head coach, the Finnish Football Federation made a careful analysis of the Huuhkajie’s play. According to Lahti, one of the key findings was related to deficiencies in the last attacking third. Finland had to find new ways to get into scoring positions better.
According to Lahti, another key observation was related to the intensity, which was too low. Efforts have also been made to find solutions for that with the new coaching team.
However, you concluded that the Finnish national team needs new assistant coaches to support the old head coach. What things supported this decision, that the assistant coaches had failed more than the head coach and that changing them would change the direction?
– Mainly we applied for a change. The idea was that by bringing new ideas and people to the coaching team, it will bring about new thinking and a new way of analyzing and developing the game. The issue was that we didn’t want to change the head coach in that context.
In your opinion, are the roles in coaching sufficiently clear at the moment?
– As far as I understand, they are. In a way, I can’t analyze it myself, since I don’t know the way of working so precisely that I would be a professional. This is what I have understood after talking with them.
When you surveyed the new head coach, why has so little been made public about this process and the analysis?
– These things are not typically shared. It is probably not intended to tell all the details publicly. I don’t see it as necessary, but yes, those main features have been told when this process was gone through.
There is a risk that Huuhkajat will be relegated to the C League in the Nations League. How does Pallioitto react to this?
– Of course we will be disappointed if this happens. We have to remember that we still have three games left, so we are halfway through this development. At the moment, of course, it seems difficult, and we are by no means satisfied if we drop to the C-League.
– We already knew from the beginning that our group is fairly tough and has consistent, good opponents. English is harder than others. Ireland and Greece are tough and good comparison countries for us in themselves. If it happens that it doesn’t work out this time, then it won’t work out, says Lahti.
Finland meets England on Sunday 13.10. at 7 p.m. Broadcast on TV2, Areena and the app from 6:15 p.m.