Tag: Veikkausliiga

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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.

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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!

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[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Veikkausliiga Update, SJK Seinäjoki On Top, Suomen Cup Round 4

Mark Wiltshear

The main series of the Veikkausliiga season is now at the 30% stage, so Mark W and Rich focus mostly on that in this episode. Who are the slightly-surprising, new league leaders? Who are already struggling to keep up? And who are striving for mid-table safety?

To answer these questions, they are joined by Ally and listener, Jamie, who talk about their teams, HJK Helskinki and Ilves. They also look at the Suomen Cup now heading into round 5, and Mark W shares his 2023 Suomen Cup experiences; 4 games, 4 home defeats!

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[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Veikkausliiga Season Underway, Suomen Cup Update, Women’s Nations League Draw, Huuhkajat Ticket Sales

Mark Wiltshear

Lots to discuss as the Veikkausliiga gets going, with most teams having played at least 5 games. So Mark W, Keke, Rich and Ally recovene to look at the opening rounds. What’s new? SJK winning. What’s old? HJK at the top. And any surprises at this early stage.

They also look at the early rounds of the Suomen Cup, with a couple of first-hand accounts of games in Seinäjoki from Mark. Rich also tells us all about the draw for the inaugural Women’s Nations League. And there’s a little more news on ticket sales for the men’s national team Euro 2024 qualifers.

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[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Helmarit Win the Cyprus Cup, Liigacup Update, Transfer News, Finns Overseas, Huuhkajat “Season Ticket” Sales

Mark Wiltshear

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?”

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[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Liigacup Results, Veikkausliiga Talent Drain → More Finns Overseas, Huuhkajat Friendlies & Euro 2024 Campaign, News Around The Helmarit

Mark Wiltshear

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.

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[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Huuhkajat Training Camp & Friendlies, 2023 Finnish Footbal Schedules, Winter Transfer Activity & Finns Overseas

Mark Wiltshear

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.

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[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Veikkausliiga Finale, Helmarit Squad, Tuija Hyyrynen Retires, HJK in Europe, Finns Overseas

Mark Wiltshear

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.

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[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Veikkausliiga Run-in, Euro 2024 Draw, Essi Sainio Retires from Helmarit, Finns Overseas

Mark Wiltshear

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.

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[Podcast] Finnish Football Show: Nations League Preview, Veikkausliiga, Suomen Cup Final, HJK and KuPS Women in Europe

Mark Wiltshear

They say size doesn’t matter, but 1 hour 18 minutes of FFS action may just change your mind!

Mark W, Rich, Keke & Ally get together to preview the autumn 2023 Nations League games for Finland against Romania and Montenegro. They also look at teh situation in the Veikkausliiga, now it has split into the Mestaruussarja and the Haastajasarja for the final five rounds of matches.

Ally then talks through the Suomen Cup final (KuPS 1-0 Inter) and HJK Helsinki’s first two Europa League performances against Real Betis and Roma. Finally, Rich looks forward to KuPS Women who have two games against St Pölten of Austria, in order to qualify for the Champions leagus group stage.

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