Finland's women footballers give coach a seven-goal farewell present
Michael Käld's long term at the helm ends with crushing World Cup qualifier win over Armenia
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Finland's women footballers continued their bright start towards the 2011 Women's World Cup finals with their fourth victory on the bounce on Saturday. They met Armenia in the Finnair Stadium in Helsinki, and the gap between the two teams was painfully obvious: the Finns emerged 7-0 winners with hat-tricks from Laura Österberg Kalmari and Annica Sjölund and a screamer of a free-kick by Anna-Kaisa Rantanen.
The obvious delight at retaining their 100% record after four qualifying matches - against Armenia twice, Portugal away and Slovenia away, and with a goal difference of 15-0 - was slightly tinged by the knowledge that the hard part is yet to come, and by the fact that the game was the last one under the guidance of coach Michael Käld, who is calling it a day after leading the team since 2001.
Käld's farewell game became a statistical milestone in that it was the largest victory in Finnish women's footballing history, and the run of four straight victories is also a record.
The retiring coach has had his share of success with the team, and also some disappointments.
He rates as probably the best moment the match in Moscow in 2004 when Finland beat Russia 4-1 on aggregate to secure a place at the finals of the European Championships for the first time.
In that competition Finland sprang a further surprise and made it through to the semi-finals, and since that time the sport has enjoyed a considerable boost in support and media attention.
On the debit side is the team's failure to progress further than the quarter-finals when Finland hosted the European Championships this summer.
The "hard bit" still to come, under new management and in mid-term, will be Finland's two fixtures against the other strong side in their World Cup qualifying group, Italy.
The Italians have played and won three matches, and have racked up 18 goals without conceding any.
Käld's successor will know that the momentum will have to be maintained when the two teams meet in Italy in March and again in Helsinki in June, or there is a danger that the growing interest in the women's game over the past ten years could melt away.
The obvious delight at retaining their 100% record after four qualifying matches - against Armenia twice, Portugal away and Slovenia away, and with a goal difference of 15-0 - was slightly tinged by the knowledge that the hard part is yet to come, and by the fact that the game was the last one under the guidance of coach Michael Käld, who is calling it a day after leading the team since 2001.
Käld's farewell game became a statistical milestone in that it was the largest victory in Finnish women's footballing history, and the run of four straight victories is also a record.
The retiring coach has had his share of success with the team, and also some disappointments.
He rates as probably the best moment the match in Moscow in 2004 when Finland beat Russia 4-1 on aggregate to secure a place at the finals of the European Championships for the first time.
In that competition Finland sprang a further surprise and made it through to the semi-finals, and since that time the sport has enjoyed a considerable boost in support and media attention.
On the debit side is the team's failure to progress further than the quarter-finals when Finland hosted the European Championships this summer.
The "hard bit" still to come, under new management and in mid-term, will be Finland's two fixtures against the other strong side in their World Cup qualifying group, Italy.
The Italians have played and won three matches, and have racked up 18 goals without conceding any.
Käld's successor will know that the momentum will have to be maintained when the two teams meet in Italy in March and again in Helsinki in June, or there is a danger that the growing interest in the women's game over the past ten years could melt away.
Helsingin Sanomat