Finland missing Kolkka and Johansson for encounter with Azerbaijan

20,000 tickets sold for Saturday's game

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It is probably too early in the World Cup qualifying campaign to talk about "must-win" matches, but few would deny that anything other than three points from Finland's game on Saturday against Azerbaijan would be a huge setback and disappointment.
      The team will will be able to call on the services of a few absentees from the 3-3 draw with Germany last month, but coach Stuart Baxter will probably have to do without wide midfielder Joonas Kolkka, while striker Jonatan Johansson is a definite non-starter.
      Kolkka picked up a groin strain in training with his club NAC Breda last week, and it appears likely he will be rested in hopes that he can get fit for the away fixture against Russia next week.
      The 34-year-old is among the most experienced of the players in the current squad, and only Jari Litmanen, Sami Hyypiä, Johansson, and former great Ari Hjelm (now the coach of Tampere United) can surpass his 88 appearances in a Finnish shirt.
     
Kolkka's probable absence comes at an awkward time for Baxter, since Johansson had taken the same role on the right as Kolkka would on the left, and hence the midfield will need some reshuffling.
      Daniel Sjölund will probably get the nod on the left, but according to Kolkka there are a number of possibilities for filling Johansson's role, including Teemu Tainio, Roman Eremenko, and Mika Väyrynen. Tainio has fortunately recovered from his shoulder injury and has trained as normal with the squad this week.
      Veteran Jari Litmanen may be given a run-out, but is highly unlikely to be fit for a full 90 minutes.
      One player not in the squad and who might have been able to fill in in midfield is Aleksei Eremenko Jr., Roman's elder brother.
      Stuart Baxter said pointedly on Tuesday that Alexei was out of the squad, in part as a disciplinary measure, but not least because he has not been playing for his club FC Saturn in the Russian league.
      Baxter said he would welcome the talented but rather wayward player back just as soon as he gets his act together.
     
Azerbaijan are around 70 places below Finland (currently 43rd) in the FIFA rankings, but have proved an awkward customer for the Finns in the past.
      Under Baxter's predecessor Roy Hodgson, the Finns lost 1-0 in Baku in March 2007, and last year's 2-1 win at home only came after going behind and through late face-saving goals from Mikael Forssell and Shefki Kuqi.
      The Finns' only match so far in UEFA Group 4 was that exciting 3-3 draw against the Germans, while Azerbaijan lost 1-0 to Wales in Cardiff and then had a goalless draw at home to lowly Liechtenstein.
     
The Finnish plan seems to be to continue where they left off against Germany, with the accent on attack.
      Kolkka points out that they will need to be quick about it, for the Azeris will readily put nine men behind the ball and defend tenaciously, hoping to repeat what they did last time in Helsinki and to steal a goal on the break.
      An early Finnish goal would be much to be desired, or things could get sticky.
     
There will be no shortage of support: it was reported on Thursday that ticket sales had gone past 20,000, or twice as many who turned out for the last visit by Azerbaijan.
      The weather forecast is not that great, with showers predicted, but umbrellas are definitely a no-no in the stadium, so if you don't fancy getting cold and wet, wrap up warm and take something waterproof along.
      And even if the venue may not be sold out, leave plenty of time to get in, as there will be security checks on the gate. Hopefully the Finnish FA will have learned from the Germany game, when there were some problems with long lines for the entrances designated for season-ticket holders.
     
The match kicks off at 17:00 in the Olympic Stadium (doors open at 15:00), and for those not intending to go, it will also be televised live on Canal+ and TV5 (The Voice).


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Litmanen included in squad for World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Russia (7.10.2008)
  Ticket sales brisk for Finland vs. Azerbaijan: 16,000 sold (2.10.2008)
  Finland 3 Germany 3 (2-2): A bitter-sweet draw against the Euro 2008 finalists (11.9.2008)

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