Head coach – Markku Kanerva
Most caps – Daniel Sjolund (33)
Captain – Tim Sparv
THEY qualified for their first ever under-21 tournament thanks to a penalty shootout win against Austria in the play-off stages, after a 3-3 aggregate score.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg in Paching, Austria, they then went 1-0 down in the return tie. Though two late goals from substitute Jussi Vasara leveled the aggregate score sending the game into extra time. The two sides couldn’t be seperated and the Finns managed to hold their nerve in the penalty shootout to qualify for their first under-21 tournament.
The Finns qualified for their first ever under-21 tournament after beating Austria on penalties.
They finished top of their group, only losing one game to Scotland. Incredibly all their wins were by just one goal, showing how little there was between the sides.
At 33/1 they are rank outsiders for the competition and after being placed in a tough group with England, Germany and Spain they could end up being the whipping boys of the tournament.
But they have shown in qualifying that they have courage and with the influential captain Tim Sparv in their ranks they will certainly put up a fight.
Manager Markku Kanerva was a solid centre back during his player career with HJK Helsinki, IF Elfsborg and FinnPa and this reflects his style of play.
Tight at the back Kanerva likes his side to get the ball down and play their way around the opposition.
Most famous players to come through the under-21 side include the likes of ex-Chelsea and Birmingham striker Mikael Forssell and soon to be Bayer Leverkusen defender Sami Hyypia.
Being placed in a tough group could well help them. With little expected, they could well spring a surprise.
Qualification results
Markku Kanerva - Finland's influential manager.
Denmark 0 – Finland 1
Finland 3 – Scotland 2
Finland 1 – Slovenia 0
Lithuania 0 – Finland 1
Finland 2 – Lithuania 1
Scotland 2 – Finland 1
Finland 2 – Denmark 1
Slovenia 0 - Finland 0
Austria 2 – Finland 1 (qualification play-off)
Finland 2 – Austria 1 (qualification play-off, won 4-2 on pens)
Filed under: Teams | Tagged: 09, 2009, 21, 21s, england, england under 21s, euro, euro 2009, europ, europe, european under, european under 21 championships, finland, finland under 21s, football, germany, penalties, soccer, spain football, sweden, sweden 09, sweden 2009, under 21, under 21 european chamionships, under 21s, youth
Meals consumed - 22
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