TIMEOUT: Change of generation in prospect after Russian knockout

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By Erkka V. Lehtola
     
      Finnish and Russian football fans punched and kicked lumps out of each other before Wednesday's World Cup qualifier in Helsinki.
      The clashes along Mannerheimintie were more evenly fought than the much-anticipated game in the Olympic Stadium, where Russia dumped Finland onto the canvas well before the interval.
      In the end, the giant heavyweight wiped the stadium turf with the light welterweight pretender.
     
Russia ran and passed the Finns into the ground. Coach Guus Hiddink's choices on the night proved to be spot on: time and again, the nifty eastern express trains of Vladimir Bystrov, Alexander Kerzhakov, and Andrei Arshavin steamed away from the Finnish defenders.
      It didn't take much more than that.
      As a consequence, the much-feared Yuri Zhirkov, one of the world's finest attacking full-backs, could afford to put his feet up and watch, and he spent most of the evening guarding his own spot on the left.
      Russia didn't really need to get out of third gear, and they still won handily.
     
In Stuart Baxter's plan for the game, Finland were supposed to be able to hurt Russia going forward.
      The script did not pan out as envisaged, with the hosts' blows against the empire being dulled into a little tickling.
      And the Russian bear likes nothing better.
      The passing by the Finnish Huuhkajat ("Eagle Owls") was inaccurate, painfully slow, and careless. It was even lacking in courage.
     
Finland were weak in covering the field, and lost possession all too easily - often in areas where getting caught with the ball is costly and forbidden.
      When they got possession or snatched it off their opponents, the Russians struck back with lightning speed and dangerous intentions.
      The third goal should be ample testimony - a couple of deft touches and the ball was whisked to a man in acres of space, who duly did the business.
     
It is pointless to go looking for the reasons for the defeat from tactics, the choice of starting line-up, or the players Baxter threw on after the break.
      Russia were and are so far ahead of Finland in every department that ifs and buts are a waste of breath.
      The result speaks for itself, and it did not flatter the winners.
      Then again, Finland can do better than what we witnessed.
      Wednesday's showing was about as dark as it gets. After the second goal at the very latest, the Finns threw in the towel and surrendered to their fate. Baxter was quite right to be angry at this.
     
Not one member of the starting XI really made a positive impression.
      The only person in a blue-and-white strip to come off at the end with any sense of achievement was Niklas Moisander, who was introduced after 54 minutes.
      The stylish left-back and recent Dutch championship winner (with AZ Alkmaar) should have been let loose a lot earlier, particularly as Toni Kallio's contribution to the defensive effort was restricted to a booking picked up before ten minutes had passed.
     
The dream of a trip to South Africa and the 2010 World Cup finals was buried on Wednesday.
      After a suitable period of mourning, Finnish chins have to be lifted once more and we should look to the future.
      The national side needs new growth. It is most sensible to start the process of grooming a new generation right away.
      The four qualifying games left in the coming autumn offer an excellent opportunity to run in some new young players. A better apprenticeship position would be hard to find.
     
There is no cause to expect instant results. It will take more than a day or two to produce a new generation of internationals.
      It may be that even the next European Championships qualifying campaign offers more by way of experience than points on the board.
      That price has to be paid. There is no way around it.
     
The broken dreams of the senior side only emphasise the importance of the Under-21 European Championships that get under way next Monday.
      The table has been set for the members of the "Little Eagle-Owls", who face England, Germany, and Spain in their opening group matches.
      The best of them will find themselves playing on greener pastures in Europe come the autumn, and they belong in Baxter's squad.
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 12.6.2009
     
     
The writer is a freelance journalist and football coach.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finland 0 Russia 3 - "Déjà vu all over again" (11.6.2009)

See also:
  COMMENT: A risk-free alternative for the national side (29.1.2008)

Links:
  Finland National Football Team (Wikipedia)

Helsingin Sanomat