Huhkaji’s midfield and attack departments have plenty to offer.
Benjamin Källman hits hard screens on the counter at Huuhkaj. EPA / AOP
The head coach Markku Kanerva mentioned a positive problem after the draw with Norway.
Anssi Suhonen made an excellent debut against North Macedonia and continued his convincing performances in Oslo. Also Niilo Mäenpää got his first A national team minutes under his belt.
The center of the midfield is now being pushed hard. In addition to the previous ones Kairinen too has boarded Huuhkaji. Glen Kamara, Rasmus Schuller, Robin Lod, Onni Valakari, Robert Taylor are already familiar names to the followers of the national team. Everyone is pushing for the midfield when Finland uses a 5–3–2 grouping.
Teemu Pukki rested from November’s national matches. There is also a thud behind him: Joel Pohjanpalo, Fredrik Jensen, Benjamin Källman, Oliver Antman and Marcus Forss.
Suddenly Huuhkaji doesn’t have a starting line-up that can be nailed down with absolute certainty in the previous day’s paper.
– Quite a few coaches would like to have one working “permanent” whose playing together could be strengthened. After all, this is a positive problem.
– You always have to take into account the game plan and adjust according to the opponent. In addition, I would highlight the importance of tactical exchanges, and there has been good feedback from the last matches, Kanerva reflected.
Although the Huuhkajie’s year ended, the November matches started its project towards the European Championship qualifiers.
Rest will be needed
Markku Kanerva had positive problems before the EC qualifiers. EPA / AOP
Against Norway, Finland played a good opening period and a weaker second half. The 1–0 lead was scored by Källman, who is hitting the hard screens on the table for the swashbuckler training.
In June, September and November national matches, Källman got on the field in six games. He scored three goals and against Bosnia and Herzegovina he was effective with 1+1 statistics.
Considered a strong box player and a one-touch finisher, Källman has also flashed explosiveness on the wing when he has been able to advance with the ball into large spaces.
– Performances are always good indicators for the attacker. Everything starts from the fact that the dune also goes down, Källman repeated his last matches.
Kanerva congratulated Källman and seemed to be particularly satisfied with how those who had less playing time in the past have performed.
As Källmankin reminded, the 1-1 draws against North Macedonia and Norway were good results. The first mentioned played in the European Championships a year ago and the second is finally trying to unbreak his streak of years of prestigious competitions Erling Haaland’s under.
Källman moved from FC Inter to Cracovia in Poland. He has scored four goals in the Ekstraklasa this season. The Polish league doesn’t resume until the end of January, so now is the time to recover.
– Pretty much nonstop has been since January, when the season started in Finland. I’ve thought about taking this break quite calmly, spend Christmas in Finland and then I can return to the club team again.
January camp
As many expected, Anssi Suhonen entered the A national team circles strongly. EPA / AOP
Before the EC qualifiers starting in March, Huuhkajat will meet once more.
The traditional national team camp in January has often served as a good showcase for new talents.
– It’s a shame that not everyone can join there, because it’s not an official national team break, Kanerva said.
Denmark, Slovenia, Northern Ireland, San Marino and Kazakhstan play in the same EC qualifying group as Finland.