UEFA Nations league group B, Finland welcomes Rep. Ireland were both teams trying to get up and run for a win in today’s match. None of the teams picked a point in September so they come into this match ready to scrap a point for their survival.
There is already a six points gap between the top and the bottom two in the group, England and Greece are at the top after grabbing six points from two wins last month, leaving Finland and Ireland with a big task ahead to avoid either direct demotion or relegation playoffs. The Finns enter this season under the management of Markku Kanerva, who led his nation to Euro 2020 and has since kept them afloat in the Nations League’s second tier.
After failing to win any of their first five meetings with Thursday’s opponents, the Finns have since won back-to-back games against their Irish counterparts – both by a 1-0 scoreline in the 2020-21 Nations League.
Coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has made some changes to the Ireland squad, with Matt Doherty, Alan Browne, Callum Robinson and Jake O’Brien all missing out. Smallbone and captain Seamus Coleman are both injured, so Festy Ebosele of Watford could start at right-back in the latter’s absence.
After scoring in the champions league goal in September, Adam Idah will compete with Evan Ferguson, Troy Parrott and Sammie Szmodics for selection up front. Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky captains the home side, while Rennes midfielder Glen Kamara usually links up with all-time top scorer Teemu Pukki in the final third. The latter, now 34, is thriving in MLS with Minnesota United, but Venezia captain Joel Pohjanpalo offers an alternative option.
