Finland - Netherlands U21 on Friday 9.10.2009

Photo by Lehtikuva/Ilta-Sanomat

EDIT: FT 0-1, match report by Nordic Football News here.


Finland receiced very bad news in the form of their first choice goalkeeper Jukka Lehtovaara´s (TPS Turku) injury.

He will be replaced by an ex-TPS gk Lukas Hradecky from Esbjerg, who is not such a match-winner that anything valuable could be expected from this match for the home side.

Holland beat easily Finland some weeks ago at home, and since then not much has changed, Finland is weakened, they have also lost against Poland and their home match is not getting any media attention and will probably lack support.

Another win for Holland is in the cards, probably with a clear margin.

My pick; Holland - 0.75 @ 1.91

Finland;
Lukas Hradecky, Esbjerg fB – 2 / 0

Paulus Arajuuri, IFK Mariehamn – 6 / 0
Markus Joenmäki, FC Haka – 1 / 0
Mikko Sumusalo, HJK – 1 / 0
Henri Aalto, FC Honka – 5 / 0
Ville Nikkari, FC Inter – 5 / 0
Jukka Raitala, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim – 21 / 0
Joona Toivio, Stormvogels Telstar – 5 / 0
Toni Kolehmainen, AC Oulu – 4 / 0

Sebastian Mannström, FF Jaro – 6 / 0
Riku Riski, TPS – 6 / 1
Joni Kauko, FC Inter – 2 / 0
Jonne Hjelm, Tampere United – 2 / 0
Mika Ojala, FC Inter – 12 / 1

Aleksei Kangaskolkka, Tampere United – 4 / 0
Teemu Pukki, FC Sevilla – 8 / 1
Akseli Pelvas, HJK – 6 / 1
Sakari Mattila, Ascoli Calcio – 6 / 0

Holland:
Vurnon Anita (Ajax)
Nacer Barazite (Arsenal)
Diego Biseswar (Feyenoord)
Daley Blind (Ajax)
Jeffrey Bruma (Chelsea)
Mitchell Donald (Ajax)
Rens van Eijden (N.E.C.)
Marvin Emnes (Middlesbrough)
Leroy Fer (Feyenoord)
Jan-Arie van der Heijden (Willem II)
Daryl Janmaat (sc Heerenveen)
Siem de Jong (Ajax)
Tim Krul (Newcastle United)
Nicky Kuiper (FC Twente)
Sergio Padt (Ajax)
Erik Pieters (PSV)
Kevin Strootman (Sparta Rotterdam)
Georginio Wijnaldum (Feyenoord)
Ricky van Wolfswinkel (FC Utrecht)
Mark van der Maarel (FC Utrecht)

Lads at the football fan forum are proposing the following line-up for Finland;

-------------Pukki-------------
Mannström---Riski---------Ojala
-------Kauko---Kolehmainen----
Raitala--Toivio--Arajuuri--Nikkari
----------Hradecky------------

Where the obvious weak points would be right defender Nikkari and gk Hradecky. Pukki might also feel a bit lonely up front unless Riski can create some magic, which i doubt.