Finland eye Euro berth with victory over Liechtenstein

After 17 years of service in his nation’s colours, Finland captain Tim Sparv is on the cusp of doing something that no senior male Finnish footballer has managed -- leading his side to the finals of a major soccer tournament.

A win against Liechtenstein in front of a capacity crowd in Helsinki on Friday will guarantee the Finns, better known for their prowess at winter sports such as ice hockey and cross-country skiing, a berth at Euro 2020.

“It’s hard to put it into words. It’s just amazing the opportunity that we have — a home game against Liechtenstein, the stadium is going to be packed. It’s hysterical in Finland right now,” he told Reuters in a telephone interview. Finland took part in several Olympic soccer tournaments, but few Finnish fans count that as an achievement.

Instead, they have waited patiently to take their place among the footballing nations of the world, with Sparv cheering them on from the terraces before first lining up for them at under-15 level in 2002 and then for the senior side for the last decade.

“It was a dream of mine to represent the national team when I was growing up. If you were a young Finnish footballer back then, you looked up to Sami Hyypia, Jari Litmanen, Antti Niemi, Jussi Jaaskelainen- it was a big deal for me when I first came into the national team in 2009.

“These guys were still there, so it was a fantastic opportunity for me to learn from guys who had played in big clubs, won Champions Leagues. That was pretty cool. You have to remember, this was the golden generation,” the midfielder explained.

“Everybody expected them to bring Finland to a championship, so I think it was a surprise and maybe a disappointment for many that they never managed it.”

The names and clubs of the current squad may be less well-known — Sparv plays for FC Midtjylland in Denmark — but a combination of defensive organisation, team spirit and the goals of striker Teemo Pukki, who plays for Norwich City in England’s Premier League, have put them on the brink of qualification.

“Pukki brings that X-factor, the simple playing philosophy that everybody knows has helped us. He’s been so amazing for us,” he said of the 29-year-old Pukki, who has netted seven of Finland’s 12 goals in qualifying.

“We know that if we create a chance for Teemo, he’ll score nine times out of 10. He’s really developed into a star player.”

Meanwhile, Oliver Bierhoff says Germany want to brush aside minnows Belarus with a display of “power football” in their bid to wrap up Euro 2020 qualification on Saturday and also boost flagging ticket sales.

Germany host Belarus in Moenchengladbach on Saturday when main Group C rivals the Netherlands also play a tricky away tie in Belfast against Northern Ireland, who the Germans host in Frankfurt in next Tuesday’s final qualifier.

The Germans and Dutch are level on 15 points with the top two teams going through, so Germany can wrap up Euro 2020 qualification on Saturday for next June’s finals against Belarus by bettering third-placed Northern Ireland’s result against Holland.

However, home fans are unenthusiastic about seeing die Mannschaft live with around a third of tickets for the games against Belarus and Northern Ireland still available.

Only 30,000 of the 46,000 tickets in Moenchengladbach, each costing between 80 ($88) and 25 euros, and 37,000 of the 48,500 in Frankfurt, have been sold.

While priority in both games is a resounding win, team director Bierhoff wants eye-catching displays to win back disgruntled fans, some of whom have been turned off since defending champions Germany failed to qualify from their 2018 World Cup group at last year’s finals.

In October, Dortmund’s stadium was also a third empty for the 2-2 draw with Argentina, however last September’s 4-2 defeat against Holland, Germany’s only defeat so far in their Euro 2020 qualifiers, was a sellout.

Agencies