June 18, 2021
This was a game in which the Huuhkajat were looking to cement a place in the knockout stages, and to show the watching world, that the win against Denmark was not just the result of extenuating circumstances. It didn't quite go to plan...
Mark H, Rich and Keke review the action as Finland had an early goal disallowed for offside, before eventually going down to a goal from Al Miranchuk just before half-time. They also look at Finland's potential path through the Euros and talk about the FFS team's busy schedule of media appearances around the world on the mainstream media.
And by the way, Producer Mark was working, not moonlighting for SJK. Working!
Show notes and links
June 13, 2021
In the aftermath of the shocking collapse of Christian Eriksen during the Denmark 0-1 Finland, the FFS team get together to look back at the game.
Firstly, Mark W, Rich and Keke review the sporting action on the field and the mixed emotions felt by Huuhkajat supporters as the team gets its first, goal, points and win, in a major competition finals.
Then, Mark W speaks with Mark H about his trip to Copenhagen and his first-hand eyewitness account of Eriksen's collapse and on-pitch resuscitation. He talks about the amazing atmosphere between the Danish and Finnish fans, that only got stronger as the drama unfurled.
Show notes & links
![9.6.2021 An Introduction To The World Of Finnish Football]()
June 9, 2021
With Finland qualifying for Euro 2020, there has, naturally, been a surge in interest in our Huuhkajat. The Finnish Football Show team has been invited to speak and write on a variety of outlets, around the world, and this made us think; no one really knows much about Finnish football.
We decided it might be a good idea to go back to basics for this episode, by creating a Finnish football 1.0 crib sheet. One place to get all the useful info as we head into the Euros. We have, after all, been at this for several years now. We know stuff.
- An introduction to us, the four FFS hosts, and our experiences following Finland/Finnish football
- A run through the key players in the squad: Lukas Hradecky, Tim Sparv, Glen Kamara, Teemu Pukki
- An introduction to some of the younger/newer squad members: Robert Taylor, Daniel O’Shaughnessy, Onni Valakari, Marcus Forss
- Why are Finland nicknamed the Huuhkajat?
- The popularity of the current Nike Finland kit. Finland kits over the years.
- Finland's anthem for Euro 2020 – Sukupolvien Unelmä by Niila
- Manager Markku 'Rive' Kanerva compared to recent former coaches
- What is the Rive-lution?
- The legacy of Finland's golden generation
- What does the FFS team think 'success' at Euro 2020 looks like for Finland?
Show notes and links
June 6, 2021
In our episodes of 27.5.2021, Mark W and Keke admitted to getting emotional when they first heard the Finland song for Euro 2020. So we invited Niila Arajuuri 'the man who made Keke cry' onto the show to explain himself! This was going to be a segment in a future FFS, but we felt it deserved to be a stand-alone episode.
Mark W flew solo on this one and spoke with Niila about his love of football and music and how music one the battle for his affections. He explains how it feels to have an Eagle Owls for a brother and the process of writing an anthem in Finnish rather than English.
Show notes and links
June 3, 2021
The momentum is building, Euro 2020 starts NEXT WEEK, so FFS is back. We look at the Huuhkajat squad for the Euros, announced on Tuesday 1.6.2021 – any surprises?. We look back at the recent friendly match that ended Sweden 2-0 Finland and ask 'what did we learn?'
We have another guest this week as @footy_nordic AKA Cameron Deacon joins us to preview Finland's first game of the Euros vs Denmark, and to look at the prospects of other Nordic teams in the tournament. And Rich wants to share some his favourite Huuhkajat tat, sorry merchandise, that he's spotted recently.
Show notes and links
May 28, 2021
It's only been 10 days since the last show and much has changed and much remains unclear. Luckily, we are joined on this episode by Ronan Browne from YLE - he's a proper journalist, so he's bound to have loads of secret info that mere-podcasters don't have access to. Right?
Euro 2020 starts in two weeks time, so we'll look at Mark H's ticket and travel situation. He's the only one of the FFS team that's still planning to travel! As Finland's Euro 2020 opponents name their squads, we'll also look at the Huuhkajat training camp ahead of the friendlies against Sweden and Estonia.
There are still a few Finland internationals with important club games to play, we'll discuss all of those while praying there are no more injury stories to make us even more nervous!
#FFSTeamColours
Huuhkajat song: Sukupolvien unelma (Huuhkajat EM-2021) by Niila ft. Repliikki
Show notes and links
May 18, 2021
Euro 2020 is looming large on the horizon but it's still not clear exactly WHO can travel to the games and precisely HOW they might get there. We are joined in this episode by friend-of-the-show, Jussi Hartikainen, Executive Director of the Finland national team supporters club, who gives us the fresh news.
We also look back at the final of the Suomen Cup, won by KuPS on penalties, the World Cup qualifying draw for the Finland Women's national team, the Helmarit, and as the Veikkausliiga 2021 season kicks off, we discuss the first few rounds of games and see if any early patterns have emerged.
Show notes and links
April 28, 2021
The season's about to start, the FFS team is excited to get back into the stands and cheer our teams on. So what better way to ramp-up the excitement, than by looking at all of the shiny, new players at each Veikkausliiga club? Alas, it's never as simple as that in the COVID era, as it seems there will be no fans in the ground at least until mid-May, so we'll have to watch on TV.
We also talk about the recent announcements about Euro 2020. Is travelling allowed? Are any of the FFS team still going? And who else makes the Huuhkajat squad, now that 26 players can be selected for each country.
Show notes & links
Support FFS
April 10, 2021
Mark H joins Keke for this episode of In Conversation, on this occasion with Brighton & Hove Albion and Helmarit defender, Emma Koivisto.
Emma talks them through her career that has seen her play in Finland, the USA, Sweden and now the UK, collecting so many championship winners medals along the way, that she may soon need a bigger trophy cabinet. She also tells Mark & Keke about her progression to being a regular for the Finland international team and her experience qualifying for, and ambitions of competing in, the Euro 2021 Finals.
Show notes & links
April 8, 2021
Rich, Mark H & Keke discuss the recent Huuhkajat friendly game versus Switzerland and then put themselves in the shoes of 'Rive' Kanerva as they attempt to choose their final Euro 2020 squad from a list of 36 players!
The British phrase 'written on the back of a fag packet' seems appropriate – so get your cigarette packets ready and start choosing your team...
Show notes & links
