Teemu Pukki is not in the lineup for the two friendlies against North Macedonia and Norway in November.
Head coach of the Finnish national football team Markku Kanerva commented on human rights issues at the World Cup in Qatar when he revealed the occupation of Huhkajie for the November friendlies against North Macedonia and Norway.
Kanerva said that he has been waiting for the games as a futs fan, but according to him, the place and time of the games are wrong.
– Because of the Games, Qatar’s grievances have entered the public debate. It is a good thing. It is good to bring up the grievances that are happening in the world.
Thousands of migrant workers have died in the construction work of the World Cup.
Kanervan hopes that highlighting human rights violations will continue even after the Games and that the criticism will lead to permanent change.
– We have a responsibility to take the matter forward on our part.
President of the international football association Fifa Gianni Infantino last week urged its member countries to focus on football instead of politics. Kanerva partly understands Fifa’s position. The players must be guaranteed a certain amount of peace so that they can focus on the tournament. Representing your country in the World Cup is a dream for every player
– We certainly all want to see good games. But that doesn’t rule out the fact that things will also be discussed during the Games.
According to Kanerva, boycotting the games is not the most effective way to influence grievances. Athletes, federations and sports players should speak up and raise problems.
Huuhkajie’s chief commander is not planning to travel to Qatar himself, as there is only one country that will play with Finland in the European Championship qualifying group starting in March. The country in question is Denmark, whose style of play has already been well scouted according to “Rive”. Kanerva works as Urheilu’s expert during the World Championships.
Pukki is missing, Suhonen is there for the first time
The number one gun for whiners Teemu Pukki not named in the team. According to Kanerva, Puki’s own wish is behind the decision. The forward has toiled in the English Championship in the fall and in the Premier League in the spring at a high pace and in a big role.
– In the summer, we contracted in the Nations League. There is a certain gap here to take “Temel’s” breath away. He wished he could take a little vacation at this point. The championship series continues at a close pace right after the World Championships.
As a new name, the midfielder of HSV, who plays in the second Bundesliga, was named to the strength of Huuhkajie Anssi Suhonenwho has received a lot of playing time with his club.
Lukas Hradecky, Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Jesse Joronen, Venezia FC
Carljohan Eriksson, Dundee United FC
Robert Ivanov, Warta Poznan
Arttu Hoskonen, HJK
Diogo Tomas, KuPS
Nikolai Alho, Volos NPS
Ilmari Niskanen, Dundee United FC
Pyry Soiri, HJK
Mikael Soisalo, Riga FC
Glen Kamara, Rangers FC
Robert Taylor, Inter Miami CF
Lucas Lingman, HJK
Robin Lod, Minnesota United FC
Kaan Kairinen, Lilleström SK
Anssi Suhonen, Hamburger SV
Marcus Forss, Middlesbrough FC
Joel Pohjanpalo, Venezia FC
Benjamin Källman, Krakow
Fredrik Jensen, FC Augsburg
Oliver Antman, FC Nordsjaelland
The team will be supplemented with five players.
In friendly matches, Finland will face North Macedonia in Skopje on Thursday, November 17, and Norway in Oslo on November 20. According to Kanerva, the opponents are suitable indicators for Finland, which is preparing for the European Championship qualifiers.
North Macedonia shocked the football world by knocking out Italy in the further qualifiers of the World Cup in March. Norway, on the other hand, has world-class stars in its ranks, such as Erling Haaland and Martin Ödegaard.
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