Join Mark (@explorefinland),  Mark (@FCSuomi) and  Keke (@kekemyllari) for regular episodes, where 3 old blokes sit and talk about football in Finland. In English.

In episode 24, we look back at the recent Euro 2020 qualifiers (and forward to the upcoming games), we try to explain what happens now that the 2019 Veikkausliiga has split into two ‘series’ and we discuss a few Finnish players, who are figuratively (not literally) on fire! season at the halfway stage.

Add-in some short news stories and our regular features and it’s another reassuringly average,  Finnish Football Show.

Download an MP3 of Finnish Football Show 24 – Euro-2020, Veikkausliiga splits and Finns on Fire

Show Notes & Links

From episode 24, the show is recorded & broadcast live on PodBean. Follow the Finnish Football Show on PodBean for announcements of future broadcasts and to join the live show.

The #FFS theme tune is “Loppuun asti” by Lemmenpyssyt. You can listen to the song on Spotify or on YouTube . Connect with Lemmenpyssyt on Facebook.

First Half

Kick-off (News)

Keke

• Resurrected JJK beat FC Blackbird in local derby to go top of Keski Suomen Kolmonen and eye promotion to Kakkonen

Mark H

•  Jari Litmanen’s comments about Qatar, followed by…
• Mark H’s estimate at the size of Qatar

Mark W

• Mid-season contractual changes at SJK; Mostagh Yaghoubi out, Nadson and Mehmet Hetemaj sign for another year

Euro 2020 Qualifiers

• 5.9. SUOMI 1 – 0 GREECE
• 8.9. SUOMI 1 – 2 ITALIA
  • It’s fair to say the FFS team had split opinions about this game. And those opinions were punctuated by a technical fault – see of you can spot the join!

Upcoming fixtures, both Euro 2020 qualifiers:

• 12.10  BOSNIA-HERTSEGOVINA – SUOMI Zenica
• 15.10  SUOMI – ARMENIA Veritas Stadion, Turku
• 15.11  SUOMI – LIECHTENSTEIN Telia 5G Areena, Helsinki
• 18.11  KREIKKA – SUOMI Olympiastadion, Ateena

Half-time

“Ja sillä sipuli”
Finnish footy phrases / terminology.

• Lehmänhenkkäys – literally  Cow’s Breath, the sweet tang of a footballers breath after 90 minutes of action.

Second Half

Veikkausliiga splits after 22 games in Champions series and Challenger series

http://www.veikkausliiga.com/

Champions Series

• KuPS have a good four point lead with 2 games remaining, in pole position for the Championship & the Champions League place. Although they play Honka and Inter in their final two games.
• Inter, Honka and Ilves are within two points of each other, just behind KuPS – so there is everything still to play for!places
• Ilves faded in the second half of the season. But won the Suomen Cup and are already in Europe
• HJK remained ‘average’ for the whole season and will finish in fifth place.
• Mariehamn will finish sixth.
• HJK & Mariehamn will fight of the Europa League play-offs.

Challenger Series

• Top 2 of the Challenger series go into a play-off for Europa League qualification.
• Lahti and HIFK look most likely but SJK still have a slim chance of breaking into the top two!!
• SJK ‘Lucky not be going down.’ – Mark H – and he probably has a good point
• RoPS look like finishing safe but nowhere.
• Most likely VPS will finish bottom and KPV will finish second bottom, and so face the relegation play-off with TPS Turku (from th eYkkönen division below.

Top Scorers – table on Veikkausliiga.com

1. Filip Valencic –  FC Inter:  25 games 15 goals
2. Lauri Ala-Myllymäki – Ilves:  24 games 12 goals
3. Martin Borjas – FC Honka: 24 games 11 goals
4. Timo Furuholm – FC Inter: 23 games 10 goals
5. Joint fifth
   • Lucas Rangel – KuPS: 14 games 8 goals
   • Denys Oliinyk – SJK: 24 games 8 goals
   • Luis Henrique – HIFK: 12 games 8 goals

Finns Overseas

Teemu Pukki is still on fire.

• In addition to the two goals for the National team
• 7 EPL games, 6 goals, 2 assists

Marcus Forss for AFC Wimbledon

• 4 League One games, 212 mins played, 3 goals, 1 yellow, 1 red

Lasse Lappalainen looking red-hot in MLS

• 10 games, 5 goals

Injury time

“Following”
Our monthly nomination of someone we know/like on twitter…

• Finsvenskan @Finsvenskan
  • ‘Everything related to Finnish or Swedish football.’
• Mark H – “Finsvenskan is informative, funny and often re-tweeted by others.”

Full-time

Remember, you welcome to join us for the recording of the podcast which is streamed live on PodBean. You could join in by asking a question in person, or just come on and say hi. Thanks again for everyone that joined us for the live recording of #FFS24.

Follow one (or all) of us on Twitter for advanced warning of the next Show.

Useful Links

• https://explorefinlandpodcast.com/
• http://www.fcsuomi.com/
• https://kekemyllari.wordpress.com/
  • https://standfanzine.bigcartel.com/
• Finnish Football Show on YouTube
• Finnish Football Show Facebook Group