“’Victory is Ours’: Finland Team Radiates Confidence Before Clash with the Netherlands”

Finland’s home fixtures against the Netherlands and Poland during the June international window could play a crucial role in determining whether they will secure qualification for the FIFA World Cup for the very first time.

The Eagle Owls collected what many considered a necessary four points when they kicked off their Group G campaign in March, triumphing over Malta and drawing with Lithuania, both away games.

Facing the Netherlands this Saturday and Poland on Tuesday, albeit within their own grounds, presents a tougher challenge for Jacob Friis and his team.

Ranked sixth globally, the Dutch will commence their qualification journey this month, having experienced a narrow defeat on penalties to Spain in a thrilling UEFA Nations League semi-final.

However, despite the formidable reputation of their Oranje adversaries, the atmosphere within the Finland camp is one of optimism, bolstered by the squad’s training sessions that began on Monday.

“We’ve been analysing a lot of Holland’s attacking style over the past few days and how we can best respond,” noted right-back Nikolai Alho in a conversation with the Finnish FA.

“Naturally, we are up against a challenging opponent,” he added. “But it’s a home game and a full 90 minutes – anything can happen. We are determined to win!”

Midfielder Robin Lod shares this confidence, particularly after his strong performances for Minnesota United in the MLS, showcasing his faith in his teammates.

“Expectations are high. The competition is undeniably tough – they’re one of the leading national teams in Europe currently. This is a fantastic opportunity for us, and I firmly believe in our squad.”

These bold remarks come from a team that has managed just a single victory—a 1-0 win against Malta—in the past year.

However, one factor contributing to the positive vibes in the camp could be their Danish manager Friis, who took charge in January and is now overseeing his second international window with the team.

“We’ve got a clearer understanding of our tactics compared to the first time, when we were uncertain about what to expect. We are starting to adapt to the rhythm that the head coach is establishing,” Lod explained.

Alho added, “We have made significant changes to our style of play and philosophy, which take time to implement. Now that we’ve had a bit more time, it’s proving invaluable. We’re well-prepared.”

“A somewhat extended training camp like this benefits us greatly. We can actually focus on practising – it’s not the case that some players are unable to train. Now we have had solid training sessions under our belts.”

Following their clash with the Netherlands, Finland will host Poland at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, with the visitors missing their star forward, Robert Lewandowski.