Finns must attack in crucial EURO 2008 encounter

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Finland go into their European Championships qualifier against Poland this evening knowing they will have to attack. A draw will not kill off their chances of qualifying completely, but it will make things a great deal more difficult, as the Finns have only one home game left after this (against Azerbaijan) and two awkward trips away to Belgium and Portugal.
      The Finnish squad had to defend in depth away to Serbia on Saturday, and they succeeded in keeping a clean sheet in Belgrade, but coach Roy Hodgson and captain Sami Hyypiä know that goals really will have to come tonight, and this will require much better use of possession than was witnessed last weekend.
     
Finland humiliated Poland 3-1 in the opening game of Qualifying Group A, but the team that has come to Finland is a far cry from that in September 2006.
      Poland lead the group, and if they can win in Helsinki, they will be very close indeed to securing a place at the EURO 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland.
      The match is therefore hugely significant for both sides: the Finns have never previously qualified for the finals of a major international tournament, and now they are within a few good results of doing so.
     
They will not be short of support tonight. The Olympic Stadium is expected to be filled with around 36,000 spectators.
      Whether they will include the teams's mascot, the eagle-owl Bubi who made such an impact in the last Helsinki home game against Belgium, is not clear as yet.
      However, Bubi has been seen in the vicinity of the stadium recently, and one hopes he is aware of his importance as a morale-boster.
     
The match kicks off in the Olympic Stadium at 19:00. Parking areas will be at a premium and the public are urged to use trams and buses and leave the car at home.
      Please arrive in good time, as there will be security checks at the gates. Rain is a possibility, but umbrellas will NOT be welcomed or permitted.
      The forecast is for clearer skies and coolish temperatures of around 11-12°C towards evening.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  36,500 fans, two prime ministers, and maybe an eagle-owl...(11.9.2007)

Links:
  UEFA
  Serbia 0 Finland 0: Hodgson´s men got what they came for (10.9.2007)

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