Finland take on Liechtenstein in first of two World Cup qualifiers
Footballing minnows are a prelude to the main dish of Russian bear
Stuart Baxter
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Finland's national football team are back in action this weekend, with a World Cup qualifying match against Liechtenstein in the Olympic Stadium on Saturday.
Liechtenstein are in fact the hors d'oeuvres for the main dish: a meeting with Russia at the same venue next Wednesday that will greatly determine the course of Finland's bid to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
This is not to say that coach Stuart Baxter and his men can take the footballing minnows of Liechtenstein lightly.
Anything but a comfortable win will be rather embarrassing, and anything other than three points would be a body-blow to the already slender Finnish hopes of coming second in the group and winning a play-off place to get a ticket to South Africa.
Few believe Finland have a serious chance of actually winning a group that contains Germany (beaten finalists at Euro 2008) and Russia, who made it to the semi-finals of that tournament before they ran into eventual winners Spain.
Baxter's life is made somewhat more problematic by question-marks over the match fitness of a few players, and over their ability to turn in two 90-minute performances in the space of a few days, particularly when the second game is likely to be a tough encounter.
Nevertheless, he is unlikely to hold anyone back for Wednesday, and the squad will probably feature Mikael Forssell, Jari Litmanen, Alexei Eremenko Jr., and Jonatan Johansson for firepower.
The midfield is expected to see Roman Eremenko and Teemu Tainio starting, while the likely back four of Toni Kallio, Sami Hyypiä, Hannu Tihinen, and Petri Pasanen are all established members of the side. Jussi Jääskeläinen will presumably be in goal.
Naturally Baxter will be hoping for quick results on Saturday in order to be able to take off some of the players requiring "special handling".
Ticket sales have been healthy if not spectacular. A crowd of around 20,000 is anticipated for Saturday. Next Wednesday's game is another matter altogether - the Olympic Stadium will be sold out for the arrival of Guus Hiddink's talented Russian team.
More on this subject:
 SATURDAY - Finland 2 Liechtenstein 1 (UEFA World Cup Qualification Group 4)
Previously in HS International Edition:
World Cup Qualification, Wales 0 Finland 2 (30.3.2009)
See also:
Big Russian contingent anticipated for World Cup qualifier in Helsinki (2.6.2009)
Helsingin Sanomat
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