Three teams compete for the two EC final tournament spots in Group H.
Denmark’s players celebrate an easy home win over San Marino. PDO
Finland leads the qualifying group H in a wonderful way, when it has reached the halfway point.
Huuhkajat increased their points balance on Thursday with a handsome away win over Kazakhstan. The result was almost vital for Finland’s EC hopes, because later in the evening both Denmark and Slovenia grabbed clear home victories.
No one expected that Denmark would have any problems with San Marino, the points giant of the group. Midfield bulldozer Pierre-Emile Højbjerg opened the scoring in the 26th minute, after which the red shirts ran to an easy 4–0 victory.
In Ljubljana, Slovenia had to get a little more excited with Northern Ireland because Isaac Price smoothed out Andraž Šporar the opening goal that he completed in the third minute of the game.
In the end, the skill difference of the hosts became very visible already during the opening period. The final score was 4–2 for Slovenia.
The story continues after the picture
Andraž Šporar scored two goals in the Northern Ireland net. PDO
An important away match in October
The head coach Matjaž Kekin the combination he leads will possibly become Finland’s main opponent in the battle for the EC final tournament pass.
Finland now leads its group with a two-point difference over both Denmark and Slovenia. The Juuts will visit the Helsinki Olympic Stadium on Sunday, and a win would put them in first place ahead of the Huuhkajie.
The loss of the home team on Sunday, combined with the fact that Slovenia will surely take the full points pot (playing against San Marino), would mean the Huuhkajie dropping to third place in the group.
Only the best two get a place in the final tournament of the European Championship in Germany.
A draw or a home win on Sunday would keep Finland above both Denmark and Slovenia, with only four matches remaining.
Huuhkajat will travel to Ljubljana in mid-October for the qualifying match, which will probably largely decide Finland’s European Championship place.