Wales - Finland 28.3.2009 @ Cardiff

This is a crucial game for Finland if they want to keep their hopes alive of qualifying to South Africa. I admit, looking at the team now the hopes have already gone, but the general opinion of the fans is that everything is still possible if Finland wins this game away and I might as well pretend and play along for a while.

Finland´s likely line-up;

Jussi Jääskeläinen (gk)

Petri Pasanen, Hannu Tihinen, Sami Hyypiä, Toni Kallio

Markus Heikkinen

Roman Eremenko, Jonatan Johansson, Jari Litmanen, Daniel Sjölund

Mikael Forssell

Like it has been lately the line-up is not optimal in this ageing team and Teemu Tainio (Sunderland, injury) and Mika Väyrynen (Heerenveen, injury) are seriuosly missed.

The key to a possible success for the Finns is the magic of Jari Litmanen (38!) together with Mikael Forssell, otherwise creating goal chances will be a huge problem for them.

Goalkeeping is no problem if Jussi Jääskeläinen (Bolton) is even close to his solid self, but the once very tight defense is not so tight anymore, Pasanen has looked unhappy on the right, Hyypiä has too much to do covering Tihinen and Kallio was originally trained as a striker and has not played much lately at Fulham. Since Roy Hodgson has gone there is not so much support from the midfield anymore.

Roman Eremenko is good, Jari Litmanen is magical but old, whereas Johansson and Sjölund are only mediocre midfielders and not too much can be expected from them.

Mikael Forssell´s best playing days seem to be way past, but if he gets his self-confidence back and Litmanen finds him like he did in the good old times anything is possible for Forssell.

From the sub´s bench the only player who can change things is Eremenko jr who seems to have a more humble and professional attitude after being banned from the national team from some time because of actions out of the pitch. Shefki Kuqi is also there waiting for chance to prove everyone wrong, but will only get his chance as a last resort.

Niklas Moisander (AZ) would have been my 1st choice to replace Kallio as a left-back, but also he has suffered injuries lately and is hardly in full match fitness.

A win would be needed for both teams, I am afraid both will come out with one point in the bag and the qualifications campaign is over. Getting rid of any qualifying chances and ridiculous hopes would be good for Finnish football now as we really need to throw away all the dead wood and start fresh.


Verdict; 1-1.