That’s it – Marko Anttila’s Lions career is coming to an end

The World Cup playoffs will probably be the swan song of Marko Anttila’s national team career. PASI LEISMA

Marko Anttilan career in Leijon is coming to an end with the current World Cup tournament.

– Yes, it looks like that, Anttila said after the Denmark game.

Anttila played his first national team matches already in the 2011–12 season and represented Finland, for example, in the 2018 Olympics, but the man became the favorite of the whole nation and the Lions’ hero in the spring 2019 World Cup in Slovakia.

At that time, Anttila scored a vital 4-4 equalizer into Sweden’s net in the quarter-finals in Kosice. Finland won the match and eventually won the entire tournament. That was the start of the national team’s success in recent years.

After spring 2019, Anttila has won another World Championship gold, one Olympic gold and one World Championship silver.

– I guess this has not been very difficult to guess, but let’s go to the games first and then see the final decision. It was the feeling before the tournament, and we’ll see what the feeling is on Sunday, Anttila said, thus leaving the last seal undone.

Birthday on Saturday

According to Anttila, getting into this spring’s team required a lot of work from him.

– The level is tough, and year after year you have to do more work with your body. On Saturday, it will reach 38 meters, so you can work on it to keep up, Anttila said.

– This requires a lot and it’s getting old enough that… But like I said, we’ll see after the last game.

Anttila has a contract for next season with Kärppi.

– Playing is still really fun. I enjoy competing and working, and that’s what it takes to be motivated to work. It’s in storage.

What about the head coach From Jukka Jalo already informed that Mörkö will not be available next year?

– I have not said. Maybe you can already sense that too, Anttila said and smiled.