Football | Markku Kanerva’s sign language said a lot – this is how he explained the catastrophic loss

Finland–Ireland 1–2

Finland only a few minutes had passed since the bitter home loss late on Thursday, when the head coach Markku Kanerva walked in front of the media in the courtyard of the Olympic Stadium.

He began by politely greeting those present, but there was a sad tone in his voice. Finland lost an important home match, which it could have won with a better finish, even though it did not perform brilliantly.

Ireland took control of the game in the second half, but still Finland created dangerous situations. This attracted Kanerva to seek a win in a 1–1 situation. The head coach wanted to turn the budding hold into a win with his player substitutions.

“The changes were made in an attacking manner. I take full responsibility for the decision that we took more attacking power on the field,” Kanerva said.

For example Leo Wallan came to the place Teemu Pukki. It didn’t help. Instead of Pukki having a hard time on the offensive end, he witnessed the assist for Ireland’s winning goal from close range in the final moments of the match.

Kanerva admitted that he was looking for a win even at the risk of possibly losing the draw point he had earned.

“It was such a good drive that the risk was worth taking,” Kanerva reasoned.

The head coach tried to hide his disappointment by not explaining too much, but something slipped through. He replied to the Irish journalists present that a draw would have been a fair result.

Now the draw was also achieved and Finland continues in the group with no points. On Sunday, Finland will face England at home, who suffered a surprise defeat to Greece by 1-2 on Thursday evening in London.

“I’m sure we’ll get a very motivated England,” Kanerva said.

Joel Pohjanpalo scored Finland’s lead goal on Thursday, but Ireland came first in the second half and pushed past in the end. Picture: Pete Aarre-Ahtio / IS

Kanerva’s program the night after the Ireland match included a thorough analysis of the Ireland game.

There is enough to talk about. When the crisis team Ireland also punished Finland with, among other things, a special situation goal, what can England with its world stars be able to do?

Heather appeared late Thursday at the media conference in a balanced manner, although his head must have been in turmoil. He was also asked about the mood of the team in a losing streak.

“The belief is definitely not gone yet. The main goal is still ahead, i.e. the World Cup qualifiers (2025). In the Nations League, our minimum goal was to survive. Now it became even more difficult,” he replied.

In the League of Nations, in a group of four teams, even the third has to be eliminated from its place in the series. After Thursday, Finland is the jumbo in the group, and the next match against England will not bring relief.

Finland is threatened with relegation to the third level of the Nations League, i.e. C-league.

“We are very disappointed, the head coach summed up the latest defeat and the situation of the national team.”