Pukki leads the line
When starting out in the job, coach Markku Kanerva kept things simple. He favoured a 4-4-2 and gave players very clear and simple tasks. As the group has grown more familiar with each other and more coherent over the years, more complex elements have been added to their tactics. This includes an increased effort to win the ball slightly higher up the pitch. Recently, Kanerva has switched to a back five in certain games, particularly against stronger opponents. Given the strength of Finland’s group stage opponents, it seems likely that we will see Finland deploy a back five in the tournament.
Hallmarks of Kanerva’s Finland are a robust, cohesive team with intelligent midfield play from the likes of captain Tim Sparv and Glen Kamara, and the constant goal threat from Teemu Pukki. Pukki finds space more easily when playing with a strike partner (Robin Lod, Fredrik Jensen or Joel Pohjanpalo) so Finland tend to favour playing with two up front either in a 4-4-2 or 5-3-2 system. A younger player to look out for is 21-year-old attacking midfielder Onni Valakari, who scored a brilliant goal against France and could add attacking impetus.