Tag: UEFA Europa Conference League

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Helmarit Match Reports: Finland 6-0 Romania & Slovakia 2-2 Finland. News Update: FC Honka, Liigacup 2024, New SJK Coach. Huuhkajat Euro Playoff & Nations League Draw. HJK’s Final Euro Match.

Mark Wiltshear

Women’s Nations League 2023, Group B2, Games 5 & 6.

Whew, this really is a jam-packed episode, as Mark W and Rich review the final two Women’s Nations League games for Finland’s Helmarit; a dominant 6-0 win over 10-woman Romania and a battling 2-2 draw away in Slovakia. They also look at the potential impact of this campaign on the Euro 2025 qualifying matches in late-2024.

They then look at the Huuhkajat, who not only have the Nations League playoff for Euro 2024, but their next Nations League group will be drawn early next year. Who said football never stops!

The Liigacup 2024 groups have been confirmed, so we look forward to some cold, indoor action starting in January. While in the Veikkausliiga, more dust has settled on FC Honka’s (latest) demise, while a new management team at SJK Seinäjoki prompts an in-depth look at SJK Akatemia in 2023. Continue reading Helmarit Match Reports: Finland 6-0 Romania & Slovakia 2-2 Finland. News Update: FC Honka, Liigacup 2024, New SJK Coach. Huuhkajat Euro Playoff & Nations League Draw. HJK’s Final Euro Match.

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Huuhkajat Preview: Euro2024 Qualifiers – Finland vs Northern Ireland, San Marino vs Finland. Plus HJK in Europa Conference League & Veikkausliiga’s Crisis Clubs.

Mark Wiltshear

Olympia Stadion, Helsinki, 17th Nov 2023 | San Marino Stadium, Serravalle, 20th Nov 2023.

Mark W battled on bravely with a heavy cold, luckily, Ally & Keke joined him to preview the fifth and final round of qualifying fixtures for Euro 2024. Finland’s Huuhkajat host Northern Ireland at home, before travelling, with Keke in tow, over to the principality that is San Marino. They talk through a Finland squad with a few interesting additions and players returning to the squad.

Ally brought us a ringside perspective on HJK Helsinki in Europe, specifically HJK vs Eintract Frankfurt and he fumes about the disallowed goal that could’ve given HJK a share of the points. Rich joined with disappointing news from some Veikkausliiga clubs; financial trouble for Honka and KuPS, harrasment and misconduct at VPS and Inter. It’s a packed show! Continue reading Huuhkajat Preview: Euro2024 Qualifiers – Finland vs Northern Ireland, San Marino vs Finland. Plus HJK in Europa Conference League & Veikkausliiga’s Crisis Clubs.

Helmarit, Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

Helmarit Match Reports: Finland 3-0 Croatia & Croatia 0-2 Finland. Veikkausliiga Ends. HJK in Europa Conference Action. Managers On The Move.

Mark Wiltshear

Women’s Nations League 2023, Group B2, Games 3 & 4.

Mark W and Keke review the two most recent games for the Finland women’s national team, as the Helmarit steamrollered over Croatia, twice, home and away. A truly dominant home victory (just look at the match stats) was followed up by an equally dominant away performance. All of which leaves Finland on the cusp of winning group B2 and progressing into League A for the Euro 2025 qualifying campaign.

They round-up the Veikkausliiga playoffs for the final 2024 Europa Conference League place are now complete. With VPS Vaasa surprising no-one, as they won their final two games against Honka, to secure their return to European action next year. They also throw forward to the remaining games for HJK Helsinki in the 2023 Europa Conference League. Finally, no sooner has the season ended, then the managerial merry-go-round cranks into gear… Continue reading Helmarit Match Reports: Finland 3-0 Croatia & Croatia 0-2 Finland. Veikkausliiga Ends. HJK in Europa Conference Action. Managers On The Move.

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[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Veikkausliiga about to split, HJK into Europa Conference, Managerial Changes, Suomen Cup

Mark Wiltshear

We’re fast approaching the business end of the season, when the Veikkausliiga splits into the Mestaruussarja (Champions series) and the Haastajasrja (Challenger series). So Mark W & Rich take a detailed look at the recent Veikkausliiga action, including WTF have they put in the water in Vaasa? And who has tampered with the lasagne in Seinäjoki?

They previously discussed the Finnish clubs in European action and take another look at HJK Helsinki’s annual tour of all three competitions! They also cover the final stages of the Suomen Cup, before ending with a Kekeless round-up of transfers for Finnish players in Finns Overseas.

Continue reading “[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Veikkausliiga about to split, HJK into Europa Conference, Managerial Changes, Suomen Cup”
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[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Champions League, Europa Conference, Veikkausliiga update, Robert Taylor & Leo Messi

Mark Wiltshear

After the recent fun of watching the Huuhkajat score a hatful of goals, the team is back to look at the recent action for the Finnish club sides. Mark W, Keke, Ally & Rich start by looking at the early rounds of European action, with HJK progressing in the Champions League, and KuPS, Haka & Honka in Europa Conference action.

Talk then turns to the domestic scene and Mark & Ally lock horns (gently!) to look forward to the big SJK vs HJK match this coming weekend. The Veikkausliiga discussion includes the consistency of SJK, the indifferent form of KuPS and HJK, the continued progress of AC Oulu and the stunning recent form of VPS Vaasa – 5 wins in 5 🙌🏼

The show ends with Keke’s round-up of Finns overseas which, of course, starts with the impact of Leo Messi at Inter Miami, where Finland’s Robert Taylor’s great form is making Messi look like a star!

Continue reading “[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Champions League, Europa Conference, Veikkausliiga update, Robert Taylor & Leo Messi”
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[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Finnish Teams in Europe, Veikkausliiga Update, Helmarit WC Qualifiers, Suomen Cup Semis & Finnish League Restructure

Mark Wiltshear

Mark W, Keke and Rich bring you a selection of recent news from the world of Finnish football including a proposed restructuring of the Finnish league in 2024, the Womens World Cup qualifying campaign and the Suomen Cup semi-finals played this week.

We also talk in more detail about the current state of play in the Veikkausliiga, with 20 games played and ‘the split’ (into the Champions Series and the Challenger Series) about to take place. We look back at the Europa Conference campaigns of SJK, Inter and KuPS, as well as HJK’s progression (Backward progressions? Downwards qualification?) from Champions League qualifiers into the Europa League group stage.

Continue reading “[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Finnish Teams in Europe, Veikkausliiga Update, Helmarit WC Qualifiers, Suomen Cup Semis & Finnish League Restructure”
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[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Transfers, Finnish Teams in European Action & Beto Leaves HIFK Helsinki

Mark Wiltshear

Rich, Keke & Ally talk through some of the latest news in Finnish football, including transfers involving Finnish players, how Finnish teams are getting on in European club competition (includes a Zoom-bombing from Mark W, fresh out of SJK Seinäjoki vs Lillestrøm SK). Finally, they discuss the current situation at HIFK Helsinki, compounded by the departure of fiery goalkeepr, Beto.

Transfers involving Finnish players. Finnish teams in European club competitions. The situation at HIFK Helsinki as Beto departs.

Continue reading “[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Transfers, Finnish Teams in European Action & Beto Leaves HIFK Helsinki”
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[Podcast] Veikkausliiga Update, Women’s Euro 2022 Preview, Suomen Cup Quarter Finals.

Mark Wiltshear

The summer of Finnish football continues apace, so Mark W, Rich & Keke got together to bring you an update on the Veikkausliiga season, now at the halfway stage. We also previewed the Women’s Euro 2022 competition, as Finland prepares to take on Spain, Denmark and Germany.

The Suomen Cup is now at the quarter final stage, so we look back at the 6th round and preview the quarter finals – the results are in the blog post, so you can see how accurate we were! Finally, we look forward to next week’s UEFA club competitons, which see HJK, KuPS, Inter and SJK in actionnns overseas, many successes and just a few disappointments.

Continue reading “[Podcast] Veikkausliiga Update, Women’s Euro 2022 Preview, Suomen Cup Quarter Finals.”
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Champions League and Conference League Qualifying 2021/22

Rich Nelson

Football never sleeps. Less than three weeks since Chelsea lifted the Champions League trophy (spit), European club competition roll back into town this week with the draw for the first qualifying round of the various tournaments, including the new Europa Conference League.

Rich drags himself away from Euro 2020 for a few minutes to explain how Finnish teams might fare in this year’s draws. Continue reading Champions League and Conference League Qualifying 2021/22