Finland gears up for an important footballing week

Players believe midfield "Litmanen gap" can be bridged if necessary

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The participation of Finland's talismanic captain Jari Litmanen in the important EURO 2008 qualifying match with Serbia on Saturday is being kept under wraps - certainly until now, and quite possibly until the last minute before the game.
      It will take quite a conjuring trick for the 36-year-old to get himself fit for the match, or even for next Wednesday's encounter with Belgium, since he has not played a minute of football this season with Malmö FF in the Swedish league.
     
However, the other members of the squad under coach Roy Hodgson are confident that with or without Litmanen - who has been an all-too-frequent absentee through nagging injuries of late - they can do the business.
      Equally there is a mood among the team that there is something a bit grotesque in the discussion when a single player's absence apparently counts for more than the presence of eleven others. It is supposed to be a team sport.
      In any event, Finland have one welcome returnee in Tottenham's Teemu Tainio, who can if need be slot into Litmanen's customary midfield playmaker role. Tainio has missed the last four qualifiers through injury.
      It is also not as though the present situation is anything new - the squad have trained and played matches without Litmanen before, and there is an element of professional pride in their wanting to perform as a team and not as extras in a one-man show.
     
Finland's final practice will be held in the Olympic Stadium this evening from 19:15.
      Only the main A-stand in the Stadium will be open to spectators, and admission is free.
      Around 28,000 tickets for Saturday's match had been sold in advance a few days ago, and with the weather forecast set fair, the game will probably be sold out, but tickets may still be available through Lippupalvelu.
     
Kick-off on Saturday is at 19:15, and as usual fans are advised to come early to avoid problems with lines at security.
      Needless to say, there will be special traffic arrangements in effect in Helsinki, and public transport makes more sense than looking for a non-existent parking space.
     
Finland vs Serbia UEFA EURO 2008 Group A 2.6.2007, 19:15
     
Finland vs Belgium UEFA EURO 2008 Group A 6.6.2007, 20:15
     
Note: England fans can also catch tonight's friendly against Brazil on YLE TV2, starting at 21:55.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Head coach Hodgson: Litmanen unlikely to take part in Finland´s next Euro 2008 qualifier (29.5.2007)

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