The Finnish women’s national football team will start qualifying for the European Championship final tournament to be played in Switzerland in the summer of 2025 in April.
In the fall, Helmarit became the winner of their B-league group, as expected, in the Women’s League played for the first time in history, and thus secured their place in the A-league.
The European Championship qualifiers are also played in a model familiar from the Nations League, so Finland’s opponents in the group are all the best in Europe.
In the B-league, Helmarit had little resistance to the tough games of the A-league. The team only lost points in the final battle of the group as a guest of Slovakia, when the game ended in a 2-2 draw. Finland had already secured its group victory before the final match.
Therefore, the national matches in February were meant to prepare the team for tougher games. Also the head coach Marko Saloranta wanted the world’s top countries as opponents.
It was the other way around. The Philippines is in the 38th place in the Fifa ranking and Slovenia is in the 44th place. Finland’s ranking is 27th.
– This has been quite a circus. We came from Slovakia in December and since then we have been wearing these, team leader Outi Saarinen with. Outi has been in Palloliito for 20 years and has never seen anything like this, Saloranta sighs.
Slovenia finished third in its B-League group. The country has never played in a prestigious tournament.
In the summer, the Slovenian women’s national football team approached the country’s football association with a letter in which it demanded better conditions. 31 players signed the letter accused the coach of unprofessional behavior.
In December, the union announced that it had reached an agreement, and the women’s national team receives uniform compensation and conditions with the men’s national team.
The Philippines participated in the World Championships, but in Asia the competition is considerably less than in Europe, which means that the race ticket comes off more easily. On the World Cup green itself, it succeeded in defeating New Zealand with a score of 1–0, but lost to Switzerland 0–2 and Norway 0–6.
In their previous five matches, the Philippines has defeated Taiwan, Myanmar and Iran. Australia was stronger with 8–0 and Japan 8–1.
The third country in the tournament organized in Spain will be Scotland, which is a couple of places higher than Finland in the ranking (ranking 25), which Finland has faced several times in recent years.
If Scotland wins their match and Finland wins theirs, the two countries will meet in the final of the tournament.
“Definitely three games”
Considering the starting points, the head coach is relieved that the opponents were found at all.
In February, the playoffs and the Olympic place are played in the Nations League, which cuts off some of the opponents.
– There were very few hard gangs from the A-League. The February window is the only one where you can play three games. We’ve got a lot of things we’re trying out and a lot of competition for slots, so we definitely wanted three games. Some teams only play one or two.
The discussions included, for example, meeting Italy or Denmark, but the coaching management decided on the tournament to be played in Spain.
Originally, Wales was also scheduled to play in the tournament, but the team withdrew when the head coach Gemma Grainger unexpectedly left the team and jumped to become the head coach of Norway, which had underperformed on the World Cup green.
Good transfers and successful recoveries
Otherwise, head coach Saloranta has followed the football year that started with great satisfaction. Many of Helmare’s players have changed clubs: Emmi Siren moved to the Danish FC Nordsjaelland, while the twin sister Oona Siren continues his games in the ranks of Norwegian Lilleström.
Anni Hartikainen signed a contract with Swedish Rosengård. Emma Peuhkurinen changed the fields of Sweden to Norway and also to Lilleström.
– Interesting club transfers have taken place and maybe some more are coming, Saloranta says.
Among the key players of the helmets are those who were injured in November Olga Ahtinen and Eveliina Summanen seen for a long time together in the English Super League playing in the midfield of Tottenham.
– Both came back on schedule. They have trained really well and put in a long day. In the cup match, Olga was chosen as the most important player, even though she did not play a full match. That department is really good, Saloranta is happy.
Striker San Francisco hasn’t scored too many goals in the national team shirt so far, but the club team in Real Sociedad is wiping out. Franssi has hit four times in the three matches he has played this year.
– He does things that lead to goals, and now he has finished them. Franssi has made really beautiful and important hits for his team, concludes the head coach.
The Finnish women’s national football team will meet on Wednesday 21.2. Philippines and on Saturday 24.2. Slovene. The draw for the EC qualifiers will take place on 5.3.
A national match 21.2.
Finland – Philippines
Pinata Cup
Semi-finals 24.2.
Slovenia – Finland
Philippines – Scotland
The final of the tournament and the bronze match will be played on 27.2.