Head coach Hodgson: Litmanen unlikely to take part in Finland’s next Euro 2008 qualifier

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According to the Finnish national squad's British-born head coach Roy Hodgson, midfielder and captain Jari Litmanen - who has been suffering from problems with his back - looks unlikely to appear on the pitch in the EURO 2008 qualifying games against Serbia (June 2nd) and Belgium (June 6th).
     
"We simply have to accept the fact that he (Litmanen) has not been playing lately and has primarily only been practicing by himself. It is unlikely that he would play, but of course with a player of his stature it pays to keep an eye on the situation until the last minute", Hodgson says. Litmanen, 36, has 106 caps for Finland and is the country's leading scorer in international matches with 28 goals. He has also scored three times in this European Championships campaign.
      "We’ll see what happens between Tuesday and Saturday, and the following Monday and Wednesday, and then we’ll make our decisions", the head coach continued.
     
If the team captain Litmanen’s playing looks somewhat uncertain, the situation seems a great deal brighter for Mikael Forssell.
      "He is a genuine contestant for a place in the team", Hodgson confirms. Forssell, too, has had his share of injury woes recently, and has really only played reserve-team football for Birmingham City this past season.
      Finland’s opening squad against Serbia will hardly look much different from that of the previous games.
      "We have a somewhat fixed line-up, and I have no intention to do anything revolutionary. Some changes will have to take place, though, and this may even prove to be a good moment to introduce those changes", Hodgson contemplates.
     
If Litmanen is not match-fit, then the captain's armband will almost certainly go to Liverpool stalwart Sami Hyypiä.
      Central defender Hyypiä reported on Monday that he would be staying with the Merseyside club, after talks with the manager Rafael Benitez had convinced him there was still a future for him there. Hyypiä still has a year to run on his contract, but recently he has occupied the substitutes' bench on several occasions, and there had been rumours he might be making a move from Anfield after eight highly successful years with Liverpool.
     
The Finnish FA announced in its Monday press conference that tickets to the two Euro 2008 qualifiers at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium are selling well.
      By Monday afternoon, over 28,000 tickets had been sold to the Serbia game, and nearly 30,000 to the Belgium game. Both matches will be played in the Olympic Stadium.
     


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Centenarian Finnish FA nurtures eternal dream: qualification for a major tournament (22.5.2007)

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