Finland

The year- long delay to Finland’s first ever appearance at a major tournament was initially greeted with heavy- sighed frustration by the long- suffering fans of Finnish football – but it may actually work in their favour.

The Huuhkajat (‘ Eagle- owls’) had an impressive autumn that sent confidence rocketing to new heights, following home and away victories over both Ireland and Bulgaria in the Nations League, plus the cherry on top: a stunning friendly win over the reigning world champions, France. A tighter defence, busier midfield and rejuvenated strike force have made Markku Kanerva’s team an altogether different proposition to the one they represented 12 months ago.

Most notably, a number of key players have benefited from the unwelcome wait. Bayer Leverkusen’s Lukas Hradecky used the time to establish himself as one of the Bundesliga’s best goalkeepers; midfield lynchpin Glen Kamara helped Rangers to their first title for 10 years; and Teemu Pukki rediscovered the form that seemed to abandon him in Norwich’s rudderless relegation from the Premier League.

And while the resurgence of Finland’s GOAT ( yes, that’s literally what ‘ pukki’ means in Finnish) is welcome, the team has become less reliant on him: Augsburg attacker Fredrik Jensen was their top scorer in the Nations League and the match- winner against Ireland on both occasions. The emerging talents of Onni Valakari and Brentford’s Marcus Forss have weighed in with their share to demonstrate the squad’s depth.

Yet there are clouds of caution in the Eagle- owls’ sky. Their Nations League was sandwiched by home and away defeats to Wales, and losing 5- 1 to Poland was a setback even with a second- string XI.

You might say those defeats were ideal for keeping Finland grounded, but it’s unlikely they were ever getting carried away in the first place. There’s a strong sense of camaraderie coursing through this squad, but Kanerva – himself a former international, alongside assistant Mika Nurmela and goalkeeper coach Antti Niemi – also has talent and ambition to call upon, among an impressive group of players. They are ready to represent their country with pride on this historic first venture into the Euros for a nation of 5.5 million. Banners out for a Pukki party…

THERE’S CAMARADERIE IN THE SQUAD, BUT ALSO TALENT AND AMBITION

LESSON FROM QUALIFYING

Learn how to win outside Finland. After losing away to Italy, Bosnia- Herzegovina and Greece in Group J, results including a 4- 1 drubbing in Zenica, significant improvement is needed if Finland are to have a prayer of upsetting anyone. Wins in Paris, Dublin and Sofia do offer hope.

STRENGTHS

Well organised in defence, industrious in midfield and with Pukki a constant goal threat, Finland showed in qualifying how the collective can be far greater than the sum of individual parts. “I’ve had some hard times for the national team – there was more than one year where I didn’t score at all,” Pukki told FFT at the end of 2019. “This is massive for us.” They certainly won’t lack a hunger to win.

WEAKNESSES

Big- game experience is notable by its absence. This is the first tournament for a group of players who mostly ply their trade in Europe’s lesser leagues. Finnish teams have also long nurtured an inferiority complex when coming up against football’s established nations, although that is both understandable and – crucially – changing.

MOST LIKELY TO...

Have one of their games interrupted by wildlife. Finland gained their nickname in 2007 after an eagle- owl landed on the crossbar during a Euros qualifier against this year’s group opponents, Belgium, halting play for several minutes. They won that game 2- 0. Bring it back, we say.

LEAST LIKELY TO... Be in London on July 11. Sorry... WHAT THEY HOPE WILL HAPPEN

Wins over Denmark and old rivals Russia allow Kanerva to rest some key players for the dead rubber against Belgium, with qualification to the knockouts secured – and once there, anything can happen.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN

Finland will give Russia a good game, but Denmark and the much- fancied Belgians should prove too much for them. Expect displays of dogged defensive resilience, and the odd Pukki half- chance, before they sadly succumb to the inevitable.