Slimmed-down Alexei Eremenko Jr. set to make a return to Stuart Baxter's national football squad

Stuart Baxter

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Finland's national football coach Stuart Baxter announced his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Wales in Cardiff on Monday, and the names included one returning player who has been on the sidelines for nearly a year.
      There is a recall for midfielder Alexei Eremenko Jr., who has been out of the side since an incident last spring when he was found guilty of drunken driving.
     
Baxter made it clear that Eremenko's time in the wilderness was not a punishment for off-the-field problems, but that he simply was not in good enough shape to make the team.
      Eremenko's place in the starting line-up for his club - FC Saturn in Moscow - was also in some doubt at the time.
      "Now Alexei is turning out regularly for his club again, and he has lost five or six kilos, which is a good sign", said Baxter at Monday's press briefing.
     
To some extent, Baxter has to look to the not too distant future when there will be a gaping hole in the Finnish midfield as veteran Jari Litmanen is no longer able to weave his magic as a playmaker.
      On his day, and as he gradually curbs his tendency to be selfish on the ball, Eremenko can provide just as good a service going forward in midfield as the talismanic but injury-prone Litmanen, who is after all 38 years of age.
     
Baxter's eyes at the moment may be on the qualifiers for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, but he must also consider Finland's campaign to qualify for the next European Championships, by which time a good many of the current side's elder statesmen - Litmanen and Liverpool's central defender Sami Hyypiä among them - may not be willing or able to put on a blue-and-white strip.
      At 25 (he turns 26 a week from today), Eremenko is certainly young enough to learn a new role, even if Litmanen may be in the starting line-up in Cardiff next week.
      A friendly against Norway that follows on April 1st might be a good opportunity to give responsibliity to the Russian-born Finn, who has already shown against Belgium, Serbia, and Poland in the qualifiers for Euro 2008 that he can do the business when he puts his mind to it.
      There will once again be two Eremenkos in the squad, as Alexei's younger brother Roman (Dynamo Kiev) retains his place in midfield.
     

Finland Squad for World Cup 2010 qualifier against Wales in Cardiff on 28. 3. and a friendly against Norway in Oslo on 1.4. (international caps/goals):
      Goalkeepers: Jussi Jääskeläinen Bolton (48/0), Niki Mäenpää Den Bosch (2/0).
      Defenders: Veli Lampi FC Zürich (12/0), Hannu Tihinen FC Zürich (69/4), Sami Hyypiä Liverpool (96/5), Petri Pasanen Werder Bremen (49/1), Toni Kallio Fulham (44/2), Niklas Moisander Alkmaar (2/0).
      Midfield/Strikers: Markus Heikkinen Rapid Wien (42/0), Teemu Tainio Sunderland (46/6), Roman Eremenko Kiovan Dynamo (15/0), Joonas Kolkka Breda (91/11), Mika Väyrynen Heerenveen (41/3), Roni Porokara Örebro (4/1), Aleksei Eremenko Jr Saturn Ramenskoje (35/12), Daniel Sjölund Djurgården (19/2), Jonatan Johansson Hibernian (92/17), Jari Litmanen FC Lahti (120/30), Mikael Forssell Hannover (60/18), Shefki Kuqi Crystal Palace (53/6).
      Coach: Stuart Baxter.
     
     
Finland's spring and summer programme also includes home World Cup fixtures against Liechtenstein and Russia in June. After three matches played in Group 4, Finland are fourth in the table with four points from a 3-3 draw at home to Germany, a 1-0 win at home to Azerbaijan, and a 3-0 defeat in Moscow to Russia. Only two teams can qualify from the group, and only the group winners will qualify automatically.
     
     


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Russia 3 Finland 0: On their knees in Moscow (16.10.2008)

Links:
  Alexei Eremenko Jr. (Wikipedia)
  Finland National Football Team (Wikipedia)

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