The match in Brazil showed that by playing with their strengths, Helmarit can also fight for draw points in the rock-hard European Championship block of the summer, writes Urheilun Hinni Hirvonen.
After two matches it looked bad.
Helmarit opened the tough French tournament with two losses and a dull goal difference of 0-8. First, France rolled out Finland 5–0, and a few days later, the Netherlands, which was on the move with its young second group, was better than the 3–0s. In the final match, Helmarit raised his level and reached an undefeated draw against Brazil.
It was already known in advance that Finland would not be easily accessible. The main purpose of the tournament was to prepare the team for the hard-hitting European Championship block of the summer.
The opponents were also from the top of the world: France is Nelonen in the Fifa ranking, the dominant European champion Holland is one notch lower in the world list and Brazil is also seventh on the world list – Finland is 28th in the same list.
In all opposing teams, the players ’club team season is in full swing.
Instead, a large proportion of Helmare players come from Sweden, where the season is just beginning.
Nevertheless, Finland’s performances left much room for improvement. Against France, Helmarit gave up the ball easily after receiving the game and managed to defy France’s goal once. The Netherlands did not score a shot for a goal against the Netherlands.
Similarly, at the other end, the Helmare goalkeepers didn’t have the best day, and communication with the defense didn’t work. Opponents got into the finish line all too easily. Helmarit achieved the European Championship place above all with close defensive play, scoring only two goals in eight matches, but there were no indications of this in the opening matches of the tournament.
France hit three of their five goals in the corner.
– This was a really good match for us. This is exactly what we came to pick up: three really tough matches. I think there was a lot of positive stuff here. It’s good that these things are happening now so we can learn from these. We now have four months, head coach Anna Signeul commented after the French match.
In the European Championship qualifiers, everyone who watched the Helmare games played from outside the Opening Ceremony. Head coach Signeul has relied on his key players like a mountain in recent years – even so much that new players weren’t given much opportunities even in last summer’s practice games.
In the qualifiers, Signeul has traditionally completed his exchange at the end of the match.
Therefore, many rubbed their eyes as Signeul marched against France on the field with four players who played less in the opening, Heidi Kollanen had, however, been held liable before his serious injury.
Already with the national team since the autumn of 2020 Eva Nyströmkin finally made his debut as he ran Elli Pikkujämsän replace with a topper with extra time in a 0-5 situation.
Against the Netherlands, Helmarit opened with an even more exotic opening lineup: only Natalia Kuikka, Eveliina Summanen and Adelina Engman have been part of Signeul’s credit opening.
Against Brazil, Signeul marched on the field with a familiar opening lineup. Emma Koivisto played higher, where he has recently thrived successfully on his club team in Brighton, and his place in defense was taken by Pikkujämsä.
The familiar grouping brought the desired result. Helmarit stretched to the undefeated draw against the seventh toughest team on the world list and was even on top of the game in some places. Brazil’s legendary Martan under his leadership, he lost his temper in places as the Finns played physically and the Finnish defense kept the stars in check. Also an experienced goalkeeper Tinja-Riikka in Korpela was a clearly better day than the match against France on Tuesday.
Many viewers, including the signatory, have hoped that fewer players would get a chance. However, the Brazil match showed that in hard games, experience is a trump card.
The French tournament, on the other hand, was reminiscent of how hard opponents Helmarit will face in the summer European Championships. Germany, Spain and Denmark are all three of the top 15 countries in the world, starring Alexia Putellas and Pernille Harderin like superstars.
With the exception of Sweden, the Helmars have not been able to face them too much in recent years, and according to the current match calendar, they are not allowed before July. Slovakia and Georgia will face the World Cup qualifiers in April, both of which Finland should cope with relatively easily.
If the two opening matches left much to be desired, the Brazil match showed that by relying on their strengths, Helmarit can also fight for points in the rock-hard European Championship block of the summer – at least for draw points.
Signeul has four months to come up with ways to score.