National team captain Tinja-Riikka Korpela prevented Finland from winning the training tournament against Spain. Next, Helmarei’s sky continues towards the EC qualification.
Aino Paloniemi,
Timo Uusitalo
The Finnish women’s national football team, which is preparing for the EC qualifiers in April, won the international tournament played in Spain. In the final match, Finland beat Scotland after a penalty shootout 5–4, 1–1 (1–0).
– Three good games, three wins and important camp days, with the Finnish goal often bent in front of the ball Tinja-Riikka Korpela described after the final match.
The team’s captain Korpela said that the team had become even stronger together in Spain. Korpela became the hero in the penalty shootout by saving the last two shots from Scotland.
San Francisco completed the decisive, fifth penalty kick for Finland. The header for Finland’s 1–0 lead in regular time I am Sevenius in the 21st minute Katariina Kosola of precise concentration.
In the second half, Scotland tied the score at 1–1 when Korpela was unable to stick the free kick. The loose ball ended Marta Thomas’s to the feet, which had an easy job of evening out the readings.
EC qualifying opponents next Tuesday
The helmet season continues at the beginning of April with the EC qualifiers. The qualifying groups for the 2025 Women’s European Championships will be drawn on March 5.
The late draw schedule has received strong criticism from, among others, the head coach of Helmarei Marko from Saloranta.
– Absolutely incomprehensible. There are four weeks from the draw to the first qualifying match, which challenges everything from match arrangements to travel arrangements, Saloranta commented earlier.
Korpela is on the same lines as Saloranta. According to him, the starting points for the qualifiers are far from ideal.
– It is a special and challenging situation in every way, Korpela admits.
For the time being, it is difficult to predict the qualifying matches more precisely. According to Korpela, in any case, there are tough games ahead against A-league teams. However, the European Championship place is the team’s only goal.
– Whether it’s directly from the group or through the further qualifiers, it doesn’t matter, as long as we get there.
Changes in gameplay
The Spanish tournament, which served as the general of the EC qualifying tournament, offered the team the opportunity to try new game patterns. Korpela believes that new types of game variations will make it difficult for the opponent to play in the upcoming qualifiers, no matter who it is.
– The idea is that we want to be even more difficult to defend. We tried different ways to open the game and if necessary we can change the formation. It’s good to have that in your pocket now, thinking about those qualifiers.
Head coach Saloranta sees that Helmarit is on a good path as the EC qualifiers approach.
– We have taken a big leap in the special situations of the defensive and offensive game. Our defensive game has been solid overall and at best our press has worked well. Our playing on the ball has been averagely good, Saloranta estimates.