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The original English-language podcast about Finnish football. Presented by Mark W, Mark H, Rich, Keke & Ally, five Brits with Finnish wives and shared passion for the beautiful game. @explorefinland @fcsuomi @escapetosuomi @kekemyllari & @mano99 bring you a variety of show formats; the original Finnish Football Show discussion show, interviews with key people in Finnish football, and Match Reports of key Finnish national team games. FFS – supporting football in Finland since 2015.
Episodes
Sunday Jun 06, 2021
Sunday Jun 06, 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.
Thursday Jun 03, 2021
Thursday Jun 03, 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.
Friday May 28, 2021
Friday 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!
Huuhkajat song: Sukupolvien unelma (Huuhkajat EM-2021) by Niila ft. Repliikki
Tuesday May 18, 2021
Tuesday 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.
Wednesday Apr 28, 2021
Wednesday Apr 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.
Support FFS
Saturday Apr 10, 2021
Saturday Apr 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.
Thursday Apr 08, 2021
Thursday Apr 08, 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...
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
The FFS team look back at the games played in the past few days:
- Finland 2-2 Bosnia-Herzegovina
- Ukraine 1-1 Finland
- Player development under Rive and possible player ‘churn’ 😁
- Plus Mrs W’s prediction for Switzerland vs Finland this week
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
In this episode we look back at the disgraceful racist behaviour towards Glen Kamara last week.This show was hosted by Keke with Mark H and Rich, who also discuss the Finland National team squad that was just announced and preview the three upcoming games; Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ukraine and Switzerland.
They also talk about the recent result (singular) in the Suomen Cup and consider how the Veikkausliiga season will be affected by an upswing in COVID cases in Finland. They even find time for a quick 'Ja sillä sipuli..' and to throw a little MORE shade at Mark W for moonlighting with other podcasts about Finnish football 😉
("I AM listening" - Mark W)
Friday Mar 19, 2021
Friday Mar 19, 2021
Part 2 of 2 – Club Career & Return From 'Injury'
In this episode, Paula takes us through her club career. From being a stubborn five-year-old who insisted on playing with the boys, through to being a stubborn 22-year-old who refused to be 'injured' by leukemia and a brain haemorrhage – you will not believe how quickly she was back in training! She talks about playing in the Champions League and, then, getting the opportunity to turn professional and move to Italy in her mid-30's, before answering the BIG question; what's better, Italian or Finnish coffee?