World ranking

16

UEFA Champs Records

Play-offs 2001

Euro 2005 qualification

Play-off winner (Finished third in Group 1)

Colours

Blue Shirts, blue shorts with white stripe

Coach

Mikael Käld

Key players

Sanna Valkonen (defender), Anne Mäkinen (midfielder), Anna-Kaisa Rantanen (midfielder)

Website 

www.palloliitto.fi


And although they will be the lowest-placed team in the FIFA world rankings at the finals, they will head into the tournament brimming with confidence after ending their qualifying campaign with a seven-match unbeaten run.

Mikael Käld’s team became the first at senior level from Finland – male or female - to reach the finals of a UEFA final tournament and their achievement was suitably celebrated.

On their arrival back at Helsinki airport following their 3-1 play-off second leg win in Russia, they were greeted by Football Association of Finland staff, families and fans plus as a sizeable media contingent.

Head Coach Käld has built a side that has increasingly impressed over the last couple of years and that could now be set to climb higher in the world rankings via a good showing at Euro 2005.

Captain Sanna Valkonen, who plays her club football in Sweden with European champions Umeå IK, is the rock at the heart of the defence but America based vice-captain Anne Mäkinen may be the player who takes the eye at the tournament.

The goalscoring midfielder, a team mate of England’s Kelly Smith first at Philadelphia Charge and now at New Jersey Wildcats, has played a key role in Finland’s progress through the qualifying group stages and will doubtless do likewise during the finals.

And if it was something of a surprise that Käld’s team qualified, then more surprises could be in store if the confidence of the coach successfully rubs off on his players.

Looking ahead to Euro 2005 after the Finns had clinched their place at the tournament, Käld praised his players then said in a statement of real intent: “We will be there to win.”

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