The Finnish women’s national football team will face Slovakia in the final match of the Nations League. Broadcast on TV2 and Areena from 19:45.
The best goal scorer in the history of the Finnish national football team Linda Sällström35, has been able to answer the same question every year for the past few years: will the career in football continue?
So also under the final match of the Finnish Nations League 2023 against Slovakia in Trnava.
– It’s still wide open at the moment, I can’t really say one way or the other. I’ve taken it one day and one game at a time. Let’s get this camp out of the way and see what the future brings, Sällström commented to Urheilu.
Does football belong to that (future)?
– It is not excluded.
The 35-year-old striker increased his goals tally in Turku on Thursday against Romania by scoring twice and has now scored 59 goals for Helmarei. He is also the most effective player in Finland in the People’s League with four hits and is fighting for the goal exchange victory in the People’s B-League.
In Turku on Thursday, Helmarit secured the group win and promotion to the A-league. The qualifiers for the summer 2025 European Championships start in the spring. Sällström, who celebrates his birthday in July, would therefore celebrate his 37th birthday in the middle of the Games.
Sällström admits that there is still enough hunger when it comes to football.
– After all, it’s always been nice to be with the Helmares, and I can’t say that I wouldn’t want to be here in the future.
Vittsjö in financial problems
Sällström’s life does not only revolve around football. At home in Sweden, time is also taken up by medical studies, which Sällström completes in southern Sweden at Lund University.
Sällström has admitted that combining studies and gaming, which require presence and concentration, is difficult.
– As long as you can combine football and school, you can play, Sällström commented at the end of last season.
Read also: Linda Sällström tells what made her continue her career after the European Championships – studies forced a lighter early season, now the coach praises the development
In the national team, the net has wavered, but the club team Vittsjø had a challenging season. In Damallsvenskan, Sällström completed only two hits.
– Linda is certainly not satisfied with the season. The playing time has come, but not the results. I think it’s the first time he says that he doesn’t rule out quitting. Clearly other things than football also weigh, Urheilu’s expert Hanna Ruohomaa comment.
– If there isn’t a good contract available, you can think about whether it’s more difficult to quit so that you’ve had the chance to play big minutes and pass the responsibility forward. But always, if there is enough desire to play, it is worth continuing so that there is nothing to worry about.
Sällström’s long-standing club team Vittsjö has openly said that it suffers from financial problems. In mid-November the club said they needed a million crowns, so that the operation can continue.
According to Ruohomaa, however, Sällström’s departure from the A national team would leave a big dent in Helmari – and not just in terms of playing.
– Along with captain Tinja-Riikka Korpela, he is the most experienced player and has scored the most goals. By nature, Linda is a big part of the team, she is really social and approachable.
Ruohomaa reminds us that the speed of many experienced players slows down with age, but Sällström is still fast. Head coach Marko Saloranta has praised Sällström’s continued development.
– Linda has shown that she can adapt and the level does not waver. Now, when the A national team undergoes rejuvenation surgery, it is important that there are also experienced, seasoned players, Ruohomaa sees.
Sällström’s former club teammate Jutta Rantala moved from Vittsjø to Leicester playing in the English Super League in the middle of last season, and has also taken his place since the opening of Helmareide. Struggling for playing time with Sällström and Rantala, Italian Serie A club Como on loan is developing at a fast pace I am Seveniuswho won the National League goalscorer in his debut season Lotta Lindström and in the A national team, who has been left with little responsibility for the time being, representing Real Sociedad in the Spanish league San Francisco.
– If at some point there was concern about the future of the A national team, where to find a striker, now it looks good, Ruohomaa begins.
Ruohomaa reminds us that Sällström has been at the opening of Helmareit almost without exception. In the autumn Nations League matches, Sällström, like Rantala, has opened the same shed in all of them – and in Croatia, both came in after a good hour.
– I would see that the replacement of the attacker would happen little by little, that a new attacker would be gradually brought in.