Finland will face Germany in the final match of the European Championships.
Emmi Alanen is ready to meet Germany’s challenge. PDO
A team without athletic input, key players on the sidelines because of the corona virus, and a completely superior team against them in advance.
Helmarien’s EC tournament final match against Germany has all the ingredients for a disaster.
The head coach Anna Signeul spun his answers as usual at the team’s last information session.
– I don’t know who will play yet. I want to choose a team that can perform well on the field. On the other hand, I know that every player in this group can do it, Signeul answered a question about the lineup for Saturday night’s clash with Germany.
At least the skipper who got sick with corona is on the side Tinja-Riikka Korpela and topper Anna Westerlund.
– The team captain will also be decided later.
More than 20,000 tickets have already been sold to Stadium MK on the eve of the match, so the match is an excellent opportunity to market Finnish football expertise.
– We have gained a lot of new fans during this tournament. We work together and fight to the end. We want to continue it.
Germany has already secured victory in Group B. In the match between Denmark and Spain, which will be played at the same time, the second place and the second-round opposition for England will be decided.
Helmarie’s role remains to spar Germany for its own quarter-final.
– It’s a shame that we don’t have anything to play for. We already knew when we came here that this would be the death block of the tournament, and the opponents would be really tough, Signeul said.
– However, the goal was to reach the quarterfinals. It is naturally disappointing that we can no longer even pursue it.
“Enough energy”
A midfielder sat next to Signeul Emmi Alanenwho after two rounds of matches had accumulated the most running kilometers in the entire tournament.
– Feeling good. It feels like there is still enough energy, the Damallsvenskan professional said.
Alanen expressed his desire to play, and knowing Signeuli, he will surely fill the field first with permanent players and only then give others a chance.
– Games like this don’t happen often. This is a unique opportunity to play against world-class players, Alanen said.
You could guess that much from the composition of the team, after all Adelina Engman returns to the opening. Suffering from a hamstring injury, Engman already trained at full speed with the team on Friday.
Instead San Francisco rested on Friday due to feeling unwell, but his corona test still looks negative. Those infected with corona Tuija Hyyrynen could theoretically play, but doctor Pippa Laukka warns too soon about returning after illness.
It is clear that Finland will defend their own goal against a superior opponent.
– Germany has a lot of strong players who are strong in special situations. This is a challenge we are ready to take on, Alanen concluded.