Helmarit starts the EC qualifiers on Friday against Norway. The European Championships will be played in the summer of 2025 in Switzerland.
Sakari Lund,
Hinn Hirvonen
European Championship qualifying match Norway – Finland TV2 on Friday at 18:30 TV2
Captain of the Finnish women’s national football team, goalkeeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela gets to familiar scenery when Helmarit starts the EC qualifiers in Oslo against Norway.
– It’s nice to start here in Norway. This is my old home country and there are many acquaintances here.
Today, Korpela, who represents AS Roma, has played in Kolbotn, Lilleström and Vålerenga in Norway during his long career. Kolbotn was his first foreign club in 2010.
– When we landed at Gardermoen (Oslo airport), I remembered those feelings, which were then almost 15 years ago, and the whole trip made my eyes widen, what everything has been experienced. I have a lot of good memories from here, I lived in Oslo for five and a half years.
The other countries in the A-League group are Italy and the Netherlands. The group’s first and second place go directly to the summer 2025 European Championships. The third and ninth in the group go to further qualification, so everyone still has a chance at the games.
In the ranking of the international football association Fifa, Holland is 8th, Italy 14th and Norway 16th. Finland’s ranking is 27th. However, Korpela was satisfied, because even a more difficult block could have come.
– We are at our best as underdogs. Even though a lot of games may be defended, we can still win games. We don’t need many goal posts, our attackers are efficient enough.
The Norwegian team also has two of Korpela’s current teammates from AS Roma, the forward Emilie Haavi and defender Anja Sønstevold. Korpela already played with both of them in Norway. Now they were only selected as substitutes, so there was not so much speculation about the match beforehand.
Norway is missing many star players
Norway is missing many of the team’s best and world-class stars, such as Ada Hegerberg, Caroline Grahan Hansen and Frida Maanum.
– Now is the place to strike. They still have top players and also a united team, but they have all the pressures and for us everything is Plus what we get here.
Finland’s goalkeepers got through quite easily in the Nations League, but now work is expected.
– The weather will be quite cool in the first couple of games, so it’s better to stay warm, Korpela stated.
It has also snowed in Oslo and the second match will be played in Helsinki against Italy next Tuesday.
So Finland is going to fight for a place at the 2025 European Championships in Switzerland. Korpela, 37, who already participated in the European Championships in 2009, is very interested in the games.
– If the situation demands it and the team needs me, I will never say no to the Finnish national team. Last year or the year after that it seemed quite far away, but now it’s already next year. Endodontically, at least until there, the pressure is full.
– The European Championships tickle a lot. On a scale of 0–10, yes, it’s 11. Competitions are what these games are for. Especially now, when women’s competitions have taken big steps in appreciation.