Analysis of EURO 2021: Finland and Kamara and Pukki go to their first championship

Finland is more of a hockey country, so it’s not surprising that the national football team has never made it to a championship. However, football has been on the rise in the Nordic country recently, as the national team confirmed when they made it to the final tournament for the first time.

Before the nomination, coach Markku Kanerva had two question marks. Whether the distanced Glen Kamara and the injured goal scorer Teemu Pukki would be able to go. The Rangers midfielder’s penalty only applies to club matches, so he will travel with the team to the championship. The Norwich striker has recovered medically, so Finland will also miss him.

Goalkeepers: Lukas Hrádecký (Leverkusen), Jesse Joronen (Brescia), Anssi Jaakkola (Bristol Rovers)

The 31-year-old goalkeeper, who was born in Bratislava, moved to Finland with his parents when he was one year old. He is Leverkusen’s permanent number one and one of the Bundesliga’s top-rated goalkeepers.

Defenders: Paulus Arajuuri (Paphos), Daniel O’Shaugnessy (HJK Helsinki), Joona Toivio (Häcken), Leo Väisänen (Elfsborg), Sauli Väisänen (Chievo), Robert Ivanov (Warta Poznan), Jere Uronen (Genk), Nikolai Alho (MTK Budapest), Jukka Raitala (Minnesota United), Pyry Soiri (Esbjerg)

Jere Uronen of Genk is a regular left-back for the national team. His replacement is Jukka Raitala from Minnesota. Markku Kanerva regularly relies on a stopper pairing of Arajuuri – Toivio.

Although he has also tested Ivanov, S. Vaisanen and O’Shaugnessy in friendlies, there should be no change to the original duo for the championship.

The right-back position is not permanently occupied by anyone. The management team has used five players there in the last seven games. Nikolai Alho was the only one to make two appearances and he will probably get a chance at the EURO.

Midfielders: Glen Kamara (Rangers), Robert Taylor (Brann), Robin Lod (Minnesota United), Joni Kauko (Esbjerg), Onni Valakari (Paphos), Rasmus Schüller (Djurgården), Thomas Lam (Zwolle), Tim Sparv (Larissa), Fredrik Jensen (Augsburg), Lassi Lappalainen (Montreal)

Finland often plays with two strikers, at that moment there are only two players in the middle. These were most often team captain Tim Sparv and Rangers footballer Glen Kamara.

On the edge of the midfield, Robin Lod, the 28-year-old winger of Minnesota United, will surely start. However, Kanerva doesn’t have much quality at the other end, with Soiri, Taylor and Niskanen rotating in.

Joel Pohjanpalo (Union Berlin), Marcus Forss (Brentford ), Teemu Pukki (Norwich)

Biggest star of the team. Teemu Pukki scored 26 goals in the Championship and helped Norwich to promotion to the Premier League. He scored 11 goals last season and even won the player of the month award. He was Norwich’s top scorer in the Championship the season before last when he scored 29 accurate shots.

Either Marcus Forss or Joel Pohjanpalo will start alongside him, with the coaches apparently selecting the second striker depending on the opposition.

Key factors for success: Teemu Pukki

Finland have a tough group for their qualities, as the draw has given them Belgium, Denmark and Russia. The Finnish national team is counted on as the underdog of the group, but with a bit of luck the Finns could win something.

And Teemu Pukki will be key to that. It can be expected that Markko Kanerva’s charges will not create too many opportunities in the matches. That’s why they must convert every chance that comes their way without hesitation. And that’s what Teemu Pukki, a born goal scorer, is designed to do.

He scored ten goals in qualifying to help Finland qualify for the Euros, but now he must continue to do so.

Prediction: Main group

Source