Markku Kanervalta’s strict answer – “I make the final decisions”

Finland the men’s national football team opened the Nations League in September in a rough way, when Greece and England held the Finnish visitors to zero in both points and goals. Now the search is better when Huuhkajat meet Ireland and England in their Nations League home matches next week.

Ireland also lost to both England and Greece in September. Next Thursday’s match against Ireland is important in avoiding the jumbo place and thus direct relegation. In the meeting with England three days later, there is of course something to aim for, presumably much more difficult to find.

“We need points, and a very good chance is at home against Ireland. And I don’t see it as completely impossible to take a point against England either, of course it requires a top-notch performance”, Huuhkajie’s head coach Markku Kanerva basically when announcing his players for the matches played at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.

“The game plans have been drawn up for both games, and above all we now hope that the players will stay fit and there will be no unexpected injuries.”

There are no significant surprises in Kanerva’s team. Winger Nikolai Alho returns to the team after injury, as well as the one who excelled in the Champions League Kairinen too. The defender who debuted in the Finnish shirt in September Adam Ståhl is again in the player group.

There is also one who is aiming for his debut: Ilves Central Defender Juhani Pikkarainen.

“Has played a strong season and brings us a certain option as a left-footed boot,” Kanerva said of the 26-year-old Pikkarain.

Huuhkaji’s all-time top scorer is also included Teemu Pukkialthough the autumn has been difficult for MLS club Minnesota. He was sidelined for Minnesota’s previous game with a thigh injury.

“He is now in Finland, and the prognosis looks quite positive,” Kanerva said about Puki’s situation.

September with the poor results, a discussion about the coaching of the national team, which Kanerva has come to help with Jani Honkavaara, Tim Sparrow and Teemu Tainio. Kanerva and his team strive to reform the Finnish game, and the group’s division of labor was discussed in public.

“I haven’t really followed that conversation, I’m focusing on what I can do as head coach. I am the one who ultimately decides things. Of course we work as a team, we talk with the coaching team, but I make the final decisions,” Kanerva said.

“I think the roles in the coaching team are very clear. And I have to say that I am very satisfied with the debut of the new coaching team. That knowledge shined through the whole (September) camp.”

Screamers In addition, the Pikkuhuuhkajat, i.e. the men’s national team under the age of 21, will also be on the move in the near future. The qualifiers for next year’s EC final tournament, which started last fall, culminate in the group games with an away game in Switzerland and a home game against Montenegro. Switzerland, which holds the top spot in the group, which brings a direct competition spot, is one point ahead of Finland and Romania.

“There are two games left in the group of ten matches, and a reasonably ticklish situation. We lost to Switzerland (last year at home) 1-2 after being in the lead and it was tough, a point or more could have been taken from it. But I think our playing has become stronger since that match, and even though we’re going to a tough place against the top of the group on their home field, we’ll go for the win”, coach Mika Lehkosuo stated, referring to next week’s Friday game against Switzerland.