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How to help out FFS As the Finnish Football Show gears up for a momentus 2021, the makers of the show have been pilfering their sofas and faded jeans for cash. Making the world’s finest, English-language Finnish football content takes … Continue reading Support The Cause
UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifier, Group H, Game 1
On Thursday evening, Finland kicked off their latest qualifying campaign away to group favourites Denmark, at the Parken Stadium. A tough start to their campaign, away to the group favourites. Continue reading Match Report: Denmark 3-1 Finland
Euro 2024. Copenhagen & Belfast – 23rd and 26th March 2023
Mark W, Rich and Keke preview the first round of qualifying fixtures for Euro 2024, as Finland takes on Denmark & Northern Ireland in Group H. They talk through the Finland squad in some detail and the Huuhkajat’s upcoming opponents – Denmark & Northern Ireland – in slightly less detail, all the while speculating on team selection, formations, etc. Continue reading Preview: Euro2024 Qualifiers #DENFIN #NIRFIN
It’s the Mark W & Keke Show again (sorry!) but we wanted to keep you informed as we plough through the closed season. Firstly, Keke reviews the recent performances of the women’s national team, the Helmarit, in winning the Cyprus Cup competition against Croatia, Romania and Hungary.
Next, Mark looks at the recent Liigacup results as the group stage nears its conclusion ahead of the semi-final stage. They also look at some of the more notable transfers involving Finnish clubs and players in the past few weeks, impressive sales of Huuhkajat ‘season tickets’ for the home Euro 2024 qualifiers, and finish up by speculating “just how good is Mark H’s new sauna?”
This episode is a follow-on from an epsisode back in 2020, requested by listener Kevin Moseley, about the origins of the Finnish Football Show. Ally joined the FFS team in mid-2022, so we thought it was about time to find out more about him as Mark W asks just who IS Ally Manson?
“Women supporters’ experiences in SJK Seinäjoki’s Klopit”
In 2022, Susanna Liljander conducted a survey among female members of SJK Seinäjoki’s supporters group, Klopit. This survey formed the basis of her Master’s thesis which was recently published and shared on the Klopit Facebook group. Mark W’s wife, Lady Satu, is also an active member of Klopit, so he thought he’d get Satu and Susanna together to compare the theory with the reality.
The FFS team is down to its bare bones for this episode, as Mark W & Keke get together to look at recent developments in the Finnish Football world.
First up, the first few results in the revamped Liigacup. Then a discussion on the exodus of players from the Veiikausliiga and worry about a talent drain, although this does mean more Finns playing overseas, for Keke to track!
They look back at the Huuhkajat winter training camp & friendlies in Portugal and then forward to the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers.Finally, the Helmarit prepare for the Cyprus Cup tournament and the four Nordic countries prepare a joint bid to host Euro 2025.
Mark W, Rich, Keke and Ally return after a longer-than-expected winter break. And having gorged on too much football the Qatar World Cup – and too much ham & turkey at Christmas – they now turn their attention back to Finnish football in 2023. They look forward to the winter training camp in Potugal, discuss the squad selection and the opponents, Sweden & Estonia.
They also run through the various schedules that affect the Finnish national teams and club sides; Euro 2024 qualifiers, Liiga Cup, Suomen Cup, Veikkausliiga, Champions League and Europa Conference League. Before looking at the early transfer activity invloving Veikkausliiga sides and Finns moving around overseas.
Rich, Keke and Ally reconvened to tie up the 2022 Veikkausliiga season in a bow. Looking at the final games and the play offs, they celebrate the winners, commiserate with the losers and deride Lahti, again.
Next, they turn their attention to the Helmarit squad selection for the upcoming friendly against Wales and give props to retiring Helmari, Tuija Hyyrynen. They discuss VAR sabotaging David Browne’s wonder goal, a highlight of HJK’s European campaign even though it was disallowed, and finish with a look at Finns in action overseas.
Rich & Keke (enhanced by Producer Mark in post-production) discuss the upcoming Veikkausliiga play offs, as 5 teams enter an 8-match bun fight for the final Europa Conference place. They look again at the restructuring of the Finnish league in 2024, as a few more details are released and make everything clearer (erm!)
The chaps also pay a tribute to Essi Sainio, who retires from football with over 50 Helmarit caps to her name. They look at a favourable Euro 2024 qualifying draw for the Huuhkajat and start booking their flights to the qualifiers all across Europe, before finishing up with a look at recent events for Finnish players overseas.
UEFA Nations League B3, Game 6
Finland’s sixth and final Nations League game was quite something. Two days of heavy rain, topped-off by a continuing deluge during the game, was not enough to calm Montenegro’s passion. This resulted in an early-red card, several first-half substitutions and, ultimately, a two-goal victory for Finland and a nearly heroic performance from Antman (Oliver Antman, no relation!)
Mark W & Rich talk through the action and are joined briefly by Keke with his ringside view of the rain. And some football. Continue reading Match Report: Montenegro 0-2 Finland
The Finnish Football Show 