Essi Sainio tells Iltalehti about Helmarie’s entire EC trip.
Helmarit has gone through a real rollercoaster of emotions on the way to the European Championship in England.
Iltalehti’s guide on this journey of imagination is someone who is returning to the competition after a 13-year hiatus Essi Sanio.
The recent Bundesliga champion played a key role in Finland’s home games in 2009, but after that he was sidelined from national team activities for a long time. Anna Signeul only called Konkar back in the fall of 2020, when almost nine years had passed since his previous command in Finland.
In this story, however, he plays a key role.
1/12/2020
Scotland–Finland, Edinburgh
Sainio is ordered to the field in the 85th minute in a 0–0 situation.
– I was instructed to defend this point at home.
The hostess team had pressed on frantically. However, Finland’s goal was protected from a setback.
– I remember that I got a relatively good break from which the ball went For Emmi (Down), who put that famous long ball, Sainio smiles.
That vertical pass cheated Helmarei a place in the competition. Just came to the field Amanda Rantanen ran away and with his famous face paint, Finland narrowly took the first place in the qualifying group.
The story continues after the picture.
Amanda Rantanen does her famous nose paint in Edinburgh. PDO
19.2.2021
Finland–Portugal, Helsinki
Sainio followed Helmarie’s decision game from his home sofa.
– I have been injured a lot on the sidelines from important games. However, I had faith that the team would take care of the race venue.
by Linda Sällström the wonderful winning goal came deep in the extra time given by the referee.
– I struggled with myself about whether I can feel this way. I had recently made it back into the national team, and I was hesitant about my place in it. I experienced extremely great emotions on that sofa, from sadness and annoyance to joy and euphoria.
The team had not forgotten Sainiota. After the match Kaisa with Collin was wearing a shirt with the name of the injured teammate.
– At that point, at the latest, the tears started to flow. I was grateful for the kind of people on this team.
9 June 2022
Sports Museum, Helsinki
The players had found out about their place in the European Championships only a little earlier by email. Now the team was also announced to the whole nation.
– I had put a lot of effort into being in the competition team. When I got the email, I read it and found myself cringing. Heart rate increased, shaking, and a little sweat.
– It went somewhere really deep.
8 July 2022
Spain–Finland, Milton Keynes
35-year-old Sainio has given his entire adult life to futs. For him, getting into the European Championship group was a huge mental and physical effort.
Helmarit lost to La Roja after the opening period. Adelina Engman could no longer continue on the field.
– I didn’t expect a change at that point. I went to do my normal halftime routines, but I saw that the physical trainer (Kristoffer Weckström) walks towards me.
Weckström’s message was clear: Sainio to the field.
The story continues after the picture.
Sainio made it to the European Championships after a 13-year break. JOSÉ BRETÓN
– There’s nothing to it. One was put in front of another, and I actually got good heat. All that was in my mind was “I can do this, I know this, I’m good enough”.
– I’m sure I still don’t understand or can articulate its meaning. This has been a really bumpy ride. Football is much more than the game itself. It contains a little life.
14/07/2022
Helmsman Training Center, Stowe School
Finland has already lost its chance for the quarterfinals. On Saturday, they will face Germany, who in turn have already secured their group victory.
However, Helmarit goes into the last EC fight proud of what has already been achieved.
– We still have one match to play. This team is full of professionals and players with big goals and huge passion. We have exactly the same preparation as for other games.
Finland will face the tournament’s biggest champion favorite without those suffering from the corona Tinja-Riikka Korpelaa, Tuija from Hyyry and Anna Weckström.
– We go into every game with the same attitude. We will give our all in that too. We want to make the people of Finland proud of us and thank them for their encouragement.
Sainio turns 36 in September. A career at the top is inevitably coming to an end.
– Those are things that I have left to think about after the Games. Then you will see what will happen.
Helmarit-Nestori does not want to decide anything about the continuation of his career yet. JOSÉ BRETÓN