Urheilu’s expert Essi Sainio estimates that the lack of play could be reflected in Tinja-Riikka Korpela’s misjudgment, from which Holland scored the opening goal.
SpongeBob Forsberg,
Hinn Hirvonen,
Jussi Vainikka
The Finnish women’s national football team’s two European Championship qualifying matches against Holland were like night and day.
On Friday in Rotterdam, Helmarit barely made it to the goal-scoring sector and lost 0–1.
Tuesday in Tampere Marko Saloranta piloted by Finland, they even dominated the match events to such an extent that the 1-1 draw against the Netherlands, ranked eighth in the Fifa ranking, felt bitter.
Sports expert Essi Sainio praised Helmarie’s game look that changed in a couple of days.
– From the very first seconds, you could see that Finland has come here to strip, grate and make the press with 100% care, Sainio said.
Another expert agreed Hanna Ruohomaa.
– Found the courage to keep the ball. We were in the attacking third, where Holland only turned a couple of times. Now we were really there and having a ball, Ruohomaa beamed.
– Now a bit of profit was given on a tray. It seems absurd to say that we should have won against Holland, when the game in Holland was completely different and really bad compared to this one.
Saloranta said after the match that he was “infinitely proud” of the team. According to the head coach, the support of the home crowd pushed the team to a hard performance.
– We are all disappointed with the result. Of course it sounds crazy, but when you look at the match, we would have deserved the victory, Saloranta said.
A terrible misjudgment from Korpela
Helmarit started the match cheerfully, but the visiting team was able to celebrate the opening goal when the experienced Finnish goalkeeper Tinja-Riikka from Korpela we saw a terrible misjudgment in the 17th minute of the game.
Korpela, who is the team’s captain, gave a quick pass with his weaker left leg, which By Lineth Beerenstey managed to break. The Dutchman, who punished Finland on Friday, also had an easy job to finish.
Korpela moved from Tottenham to AS Roma for the 2023–2024 season, but the number of matches remained modest due to injury, among other things.
Essi Sainion according to this, the inability to play could be seen in Korpela’s decision.
– I have to wonder that he starts with his left foot from a bad position to try to switch sides. It was quite a risk. Korpela is an experienced player, these things rarely happen to him, Sainio said.
– A bit daring and a stupid mistake.
Korpela was proud of his team after the game.
– Of course, I’m saddened by the mistake they were able to make it from… probably their only place. But that’s the way it is and the goalie position is brutal. That’s where the mistake shows up on the scoreboard, Korpela said.
Another long-range goal from Rantala
Played in Leicester in the peak season Jutta Rantala shouted the crowd in the 77th minute as he fired a superb left-footed curl into the top corner Ria Örling’s after exploitation and passing.
Sainio points out that the scoring opportunity arose from Finland’s game plan, which relied on long balls in the attack.
– Let’s put a long ball, but we’ll also go for second balls. Perhaps Finland lost a little too many of them in this game. In this situation, the second ball is won.
After the match, Rantalakin was disappointed with the draw.
– Good point, though. We improved from the last game. You can be satisfied with the performance, but yes, we should have won in these places.
Finland took the scoring attempts of the match 11–6. Olga Ahtisenna was the top spot in the 89th minute, but the Tottenham midfield would pull over the goal.
Direct race place in your own hands
Finland will face Norway at home in the EC qualifiers on July 12. and away from Italy on 16.7.
Holland leads the group with seven points. Norway and Italy played a 1-1 draw and are on five points. Finland has four points.
The ranking in the top two and a direct EC competition place are therefore in Helmarien’s own hands.
– They are important matches for us and everything is in our own hands. We have improved so much in the last few games so I think we have a good chance, Eveliina Summanen said.