Under-19s progress in UEFA European Championships

Two goals from Liverpool prospect Lauri Dalla Valle

Lauri Dalla Valle

Teemu Pukki

print this

While Finland’s national football team were on the end of a deserved spanking in Moscow last Wednesday, things are looking better on the junior front.
      We already saw last Tuesday how the Under-21s battled their way to the European Championship finals in Sweden, with an epic victory over Austria after extra time and penalties, and now the Under-19s have set down their own marker.
     
In their qualifying group matches, played last week in Portugal, the Finns beat Israel 2-1, lost by the same margin to the Portuguese hosts, and on Sunday they overcame Bulgaria 3-1 to progress to the next stage of the 2009 European Championships behind Group 12 winners Portugal.
      Two of the three goals in Sunday’s game came from Lauri Dalla Valle, the talented 17-year-old striker from Kontiolahti who is now with the Liverpool FC junior academy and playing in the Liverpool Under-18s and reserve squad. Another to catch the eye was Teemu Pukki from Kotka, who was picked up by Sevilla FC in Spain at the beginning of this year. Pukki recently made his first appearance for Sevilla's reserve side, scoring on his début in a 1-0 win.
     
By getting past the qualifying round, the young Finnish players will move on to the next stage, the Elite Round next spring.
      There the top two teams from each of the 13 qualifying groups, plus the best two third-placed sides, will play for a place in the finals, to be held in Ukraine in July 2009.
      Seven places will be up for grabs, as the hosts qualify automatically.
      The Finnish Under-19s are coached by Jyrki Heliskoski.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Lauri Dalla Valle: Son of former drugs officer picks Liverpool (11.12.2007)
  Football prospect Teemu Pukki chooses Spain and Sevilla FC (15.1.2008)

Links:
  UEFA

Helsingin Sanomat