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Finland is a hockey empire. He also took 101 gold medals at the Summer Olympics, mostly in wrestling and throwing heavy objects. She is very strong in racing. Soccer? An occupation for lazy and weaklings, unworthy of attention. In 2017, the national team and its fans seemed more like a closed circle than a real force. Journalist Matti Harkonen explained to World Soccer in 2019: “A couple of months ago, soccer practically did not exist in the eyes of the public. Everyone said that in other countries soccer is played, and in Finland – in Potkupallo , which translates to kicking the ball where it’s horrible. “
Today? Today the national team arrived in Kiev to win the fight for a ticket to the World Championship. She is very angry about the lost victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina at home in the first round, she wants revenge. He also wants revenge for Ukraine’s two losses in the 2018 World Cup Qualifier. He wants to completely follow Iceland’s path, for the first time in its history, it sensationally worked its way to the Euro, and then immediately to the World Cup. On the way there, the Icelanders knocked out the Ukrainians. The Finns will not refuse to go through the same opponent. Now they believe in themselves. They believe in themselves. The inferiority complex has disappeared. Self-confidence reigns.
Mathematics and democracy
Suomi came close to participating in a major tournament several times, but each time she failed. In the Selection for the 1980 Eurocup, I was very lucky with the group, they beat the USSR, but I managed to fly to Greece with a score of 1: 8. In injury time, the decisive match for qualification for the 1998 World Cup in Hungary after three rebounds. In qualifying for Euro 2008, he scored 0: 0 in Portugal, but there he had to win to qualify. She has not lost to Germany in two Qualifying Tournaments in both matches, but this was only enough for third places. Many fans, even young ones, said that they would never see the national team in a major tournament.
What changed? What led the national team to the first major tournament in history, Euro 2020, which gave it victory in the 2018 Nations League group? Actually, nothing global. In Iceland, they talked about hundreds of indoor grassy areas, about a national project for the concentrated training of talented young people. There was no such scope in Finland. They speak of the help of Sauli Ninisto, president of the country since 2012, and immediately before that, the head of the local Football Federation. But this help is mainly moral and bureaucratic. How to give young soccer talents the best possible conditions during compulsory military service.
This service, for example, interrupted Teemu Tainio’s transfer to Manchester United 25 years ago. Now it is easier. That is all.
Compared to Iceland, Finland lacks a lot. The former have players in the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, the best teams from Holland, Greece and Russia. His breakthrough started with Lars Lagerbuck, one of the best and most experienced trainers in Northern Europe. They had public relations in the form of the now famous long throw-ins and the rhythm of applause from the fans. The Finns have none of this. Players from “Rangers” and “Union” (at best), as well as “Esbjerg”, “Paphos”, “Warta”, “Trencin” came to Kiev. With the coach, whose appointment after Ukraine’s 0: 1 in 2016 was perceived as a mockery, as the last nail in the coffin of the national team.
Therefore, one conclusion remains: the coach. Markku Kanerva has been with the Federation since 2004. In 2009, he led the youth team to the first European Championship in its history. In the 90s, in parallel to the active play of HIK (including in the Champions League-1998/99) and the national team, he worked as a teacher of mathematics and physical education in the primary grades. Even with disadvantaged children from poor areas. With whom I found a common language. “The principal gave me complete freedom on the condition that the students did not commit acts of vandalism. We did what they wanted. Soccer and boxing. Obviously they needed the latter at night and at the end of the week in their area.”
Kanerva loves numbers, a deep scientific approach to coaching. Collaborate with the University of Helsinki. He even calls any soccer team a Research Institute. However, it is not just a bookworm. It created a democratic atmosphere of trust with the players. He always consults with them, offers to analyze, express his opinion, inspires discussions. Understand the importance of the process. “I think the obsession with results is a road to nowhere. I also have the ability to push football players away when necessary. We have developed a group dynamic with the team.”
фото – Getty Images / Global Images Ukraine
“The opinions of the national team are always welcome. I think the coach is primarily necessary to support the players.” Captain Tim Sparv confirms: “He focuses on theory, but puts everything clearly. We have a very good atmosphere in the dressing room, open, with great responsibility from the players. He constantly asks us about feelings, about what we would like.” change. a truly safe environment. “
Markku also understands that the national team does not have time to play anything complicated and simplifies. Their “owls” play according to the simpler 4-4-2 system, first looking out for defense, and then looking for counterattacks, mainly under the leadership of Teemu Pukki. And the coach doesn’t burden them with numbers, leading them to extremely clear tasks. “I’m an old school coach, a traditionalist,” he admits. “But also very player-oriented. I think we are not that strong yet and we cannot maintain the same game plan against any opponent. Our preparation depends a lot on the opponents. The powerful central zone covers the defense and the goalkeeper.”
Pukki and others
Finland Kanerva creates very few attack actions, does not take risks. Very rarely does it end up in the opponent’s penalty area. Almost always inferior in shots on goal, he almost always owns the ball about forty percent of the time. Their flanks are not active enough. Even after switching to a 3-5-2 tactical formation, facing the Bosnians. “We need to find more of our flank players. There is still room for improvement.” But he loves to sit on the defensive. Goalkeeper Lucas Gradecki says about the Toivio-Arajuuri tandem defenders that they know each other better and spend more time together than with their life partners. And Pukki flees in a counterattack.
The Finns finished the 2020 Nations League with three clean sheets, four wins over Ireland and Bulgaria and just two losses to Wales. Euro 2020 qualifying tournament – with a goal difference of 16:10 and with six clean sheets against Bosnia, Greece, Armenia, Liechtenstein Pukki scored 10 of the 16 goals. Overall, Teemu has scored 19 goals in his last 25 international matches. Leaving at 29. There are only three for Jari Litmanen. Pukki will not become a legend. But in a Yari, he definitely got ahead. For 20 years in the national team, even with the help of Sami Hyuypää, Mikael Forssell of Liverpool and Chelsea, Antti Niemi, Jussi Jaaskelainen did not enter a big tournament.
фото – Getty Images / Global Images Ukraine
The attacking leader of the national team and “Norwich”, who already has a foot in the Premier League, is really very important for this team. Without it, there are almost no “owl” attacks. Forssell compares his ability to escape defenders, starting speed with Michael Owen in the best times of an Englishman. HS compares him to “a young stallion in green pastures” and even wonders if he is human. “His sense of starting vertical races is precious.” And the Swede Aftonbladet celebrates his prowess and finds “garbage”, ugly goals.
Who else is dangerous? At 3-5-2 – Robin Lod. As a winger, he lacked speed and dribbling, but in the center of the attack, intelligence and perseverance decide. “His passing is wonderful, as is the interaction with Pukki. Robin finds the space between lines very early. And he has already learned to score,” says Forssell. Glenn Camara of the Rangers excels in midfield. He selects and has excellent ball possession, easily getting rid of external pressure. According to HS, his approach to attack during the match against Bosnia weakened the team. And Toivio and Arayuuri from “Hecken” and “Paphos” in tandem look like players from the Top-5 league teams.
And, of course, in the national team that style is impossible without a great goalkeeper. Jesse Joronen of “Brescia” saved a lot against Bosnia, that is, he perfectly replaced the injured one of the best goalkeepers in the Bundesliga, Lucas Hradecki. He even beat a Miralem Pjanic penalty.
Don’t let go of the dream
Photo – palloliitto.fi, Author – Kalevi Hämäläinen / SPL
In the press and in the national team itself, the performance against the Bosnians was unequivocally declared unsuccessful. They spoke of a good start to the game without goals, after the loss of an advantage, a bad start in the second half and a failed finish, which brought only 2: 2. It was noted that the center of the defense, not used to to play according to the new scheme, he failed and, as always, there was only Pukki (double) in the attack. Kanerva and the players noticed a too frequent loss of the ball due to the high pressure of the opponent after the break. Disappointment was clearly felt in everyone’s words. And such evaluations speak as much of the sobriety and adequacy of the analysis as they do of greater ambitions.
The “owls” are not going to rest on their laurels. In the end, they are the only ones to beat France since March 2018. In November 2020. And without Pukka and Captain Sparva, they won’t be there today. They were selected for the European Championship under the slogan “Dream of generations”, developed by an advertising agency, and a banner “Finland, our time has come” was displayed at the decisive match. And the Kanerva charges won’t let him go. Andriy Shevchenko said that he knows very well what awaits his team: a lot of wrestling, singles matches. Hopefully your pupils are aware of this too. Otherwise, points will be lost.
