Finland women's national football team

Finland
Nickname(s)	Helmarit (the Boreal Owls)[1]
Association	Football Association; of Finland; (Suomen Palloliitto)
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Marko Saloranta (interim)
Captain	Tinja-Riikka Korpela
Most caps	Anna Westerlund (145)
Top scorer	Linda Sällström (51)
FIFA code	FIN
First colours	Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	29 2 (24 March 2023)[2]
Highest	14 (September 2005)
Lowest	32 (March 2019)
First international
	Finland 0–0 Sweden ; (Mariehamn, Åland 25 August 1973)
Biggest win
	Bulgaria 0–8 Finland ; (Lovech, Bulgaria 21 August 2014); Finland 8–0 Hungary ; (Larnaca, Cyprus 19 February 2023)
Biggest defeat
	Denmark 9–0 Finland ; (Vejen, Denmark 26 July 1975)
European Championship
Appearances	4 (first in 2005)
Best result	Semi-finals (2005)

The Finland women's national football team, also known as nickname The Boreal Owls (Finnish: Helmarit),[1] represents Finland in international women's football. The team, controlled by the Football Association of Finland (SPL/FBF), reached the semi-finals of the 2005 European Championship, surprising the female football world having drawn with Sweden and beaten Denmark. Finland hosted the 2009 EC finals.[3]

The Finnish team has had a few players that are considered to be among the best in women's football, such as Laura Österberg Kalmari, Sanna Valkonen and Anne Mäkinen.

As of August 2022, the team is ranked 29th in the FIFA world ranking. From 2004 to 2010 the typical ranking was 16th.[4]

History

The beginning

The Finland women's national football team played its first international match in 1973 against Sweden. The game was played in Mariehamn, Åland.

Team image

Nicknames

The Finland women's national football team has been known or nicknamed as the "Helmarit (the Boreal Owls)".[1]

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Win Draw Loss Fixture

2022

12 April 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A	Finland	6–0	Georgia	Helsinki
17:15 (18:15 EEST)	Alanen 24' Summanen 35' (pen.), 65' Engman 39' Kalandadze 55' (o.g.) Danielsson 73'	Report		Stadium: Bolt Arena Referee: Reelika Turi (Estonia)

27 June Friendly	Finland	1–5	Japan	Turku, Finland
--:-- UTC+2				Stadium: Veritas Stadium

2 July Friendly	Netherlands	2–0	Finland	Enschede, Netherlands
18:00 UTC+1				Stadium: De Grolsch Veste

8 July UEFA Euro 2022 group stage	Spain	4–1	Finland	Milton Keynes, England
	Guerrero 26' Bonmatí 41' L. García 75' M. Caldentey 90+5' (pen.)	Report	Sällström 1'	Stadium: Stadium MK Attendance: 16,819 Referee: Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine)

12 July UEFA Euro 2022 group stage	Denmark	1–0	Finland	Milton Keynes, England
		Report		Stadium: Stadium MK

16 July UEFA Euro 2022 group stage	Finland	0–3	Germany	Milton Keynes, England
		Report	Kleinherne 40' Popp 48' Anyomi 63'	Stadium: Stadium MK Attendance: 20,721 Referee: Emikar Calderas Barrera (Venezuela)

1 September 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A	Republic of Ireland	1–0	Finland	Dublin
17:00 (20:00 GET)	Agg 54'	Report		Stadium: Tallaght Stadium Referee: Stéphanie Frappart (France)

6 September 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A	Finland	0–5	Sweden
		Report

12 November Friendly	Wales	1–1	Finland	San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain
--:-- UTC+1

2023

16 February 2023 Cyprus Women's Cup	Croatia	1–4	Finland	Larnaca, Cyprus
	Nevrkla 8'	Marta Huerta de Aza (Spain)	Summanen 3' Sällström 15' Ahtinen 62' Rantala 69'	Stadium: GSZ Stadium

19 February 2023 Cyprus Women's Cup	Finland	8–0	Hungary	Larnaca, Cyprus
	Collin 21' Koivisto 35' Danielsson 43', 88' Sällström 67', 77', 79' Summanen 84'			Stadium: AEK Arena

22 February 2023 Cyprus Women's Cup	Finland	4–0	Romania	Larnaca, Cyprus
				Stadium: AEK Arena

7 April Friendly

Slovakia

0–1

Finland

10 April Friendly

Slovakia

0–2

Finland

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

As of August 2022

Head coach: Marko Saloranta (interim)
Assistant coach: Marianne Miettinen
Assistant coach: Mika Sankala
Assistant coach: Ann-Helen Grahm
Goalkeeping coach: Aki Moilanen

Manager history

As of 24 July 2022

Tenure	Coach	Record
G	W	D	L	Win %
1973–77	Juhani Nirkkonen	12	1	1	10	008.33
1978	Simo Syrjävaara	3	1	1	1	033.33
1979–89	Kaj Österberg	44	13	12	19	029.55
1989–92	Jyrki Nieminen	24	3	4	17	012.50
1993–96	Nils Suomalainen	24	4	5	15	016.67
1996–00	Reima Kokko	46	11	3	32	023.91
2001–09	Michael Käld	107	35	22	50	032.71
2010–16	Andrée Jeglertz	76	27	13	36	035.53
2017	Marko Saloranta	6	2	0	4	033.33
2017–2022	Anna Signeul	47	19	11	17	040.43
2022–	Marko Saloranta	0	0	0	0	!—

Players

Finland

The squad was announced on 9 June 2022 for Women Euro 2022.[5]

Stats after match with Germany on 17 July 2022. Head coach: Anna Signeul

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Katriina Talaslahti	(2000-09-21) 21 September 2000	2	0	FC Fleury 91
12	1GK	Anna Tamminen	(1994-10-30)30 October 1994 (aged 27)	6	0	Hammarby
23	1GK	Tinja-Riikka Korpela (captain)	(1986-05-05)5 May 1986 (aged 36)	109	0	Tottenham Hotspur

2	2DF	Elli Pikkujämsä	(1999-10-24) 24 October 1999	18	0	Racing Louisville
3	2DF	Tuija Hyyrynen	(1988-03-10)10 March 1988 (aged 34)	121	3	Unattached
5	2DF	Emma Koivisto	(1994-09-25)25 September 1994 (aged 27)	78	3	Liverpool
6	2DF	Anna Auvinen	(1987-03-02)2 March 1987 (aged 35)	20	0	Unattached
11	2DF	Nora Heroum	(1994-07-20)20 July 1994 (aged 27)	84	1	Parma
15	2DF	Natalia Kuikka	(1995-12-01)1 December 1995 (aged 26)	71	3	Portland Thorns
16	2DF	Anna Westerlund	(1989-04-09)9 April 1989 (aged 33)	145	4	Åland United

4	3MF	Ria Öling	(1994-09-15)15 September 1994 (aged 27)	62	9	Rosengård
8	3MF	Olga Ahtinen	(1997-08-15)15 August 1997 (aged 24)	46	3	Linköpings FC
9	3MF	Juliette Kemppi	(1994-05-14)14 May 1994 (aged 28)	64	5	IFK Kalmar
10	3MF	Emmi Alanen	(1991-04-30)30 April 1991 (aged 31)	97	21	Kristianstads DFF
13	3MF	Jenny Danielsson	(1994-08-30)30 August 1994 (aged 27)	39	7	Rangers
19	3MF	Essi Sainio	(1986-09-09)9 September 1986 (aged 35)	58	3	HJK
20	3MF	Eveliina Summanen	(1998-05-29)29 May 1998 (aged 24)	44	7	Tottenham Hotspur

7	4FW	Adelina Engman	(1994-10-11)11 October 1994 (aged 27)	85	12	Hammarby
14	4FW	Heidi Kollanen	(1997-06-06)6 June 1997 (aged 25)	19	2	KIF Örebro DFF
17	4FW	Sanni Franssi	(1995-03-19)19 March 1995 (aged 27)	60	3	Real Sociedad
18	4FW	Linda Sällström	(1988-07-13)13 July 1988 (aged 33)	120	51	Vittsjö GIK
21	4FW	Amanda Rantanen	(1998-05-11)11 May 1998 (aged 24)	13	1	KIF Örebro DFF
22	4FW	Jutta Rantala	(1999-11-11)11 November 1999 (aged 22)	8	1	Vittsjö GIK

Recent call ups

The following players have been called up to the squad in the past 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up

Records

*Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 9 July 2022

Most capped players

Anna Westerlund currently holds the record for the most appearances for the Finland women's national football team.

Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Years
1	Anna Westerlund	145	4	2008–
2	Laura Österberg Kalmari	130	41	1996–2011
3	Tuija Hyyrynen	121	3	2007–
4	Sanna Valkonen	120	7	1995–2009
4	Linda Sällström	120	51	2007–
6	Anne Mäkinen	118	16	1991–2009
6	Jessica Julin	118	4	1997–2009
8	Tinja-Riikka Korpela (GK)	109	0	2007–
9	Anna-Kaisa Rantanen	105	8	1996–2011
10	Sanna Talonen	103	36	2004–2014
11	Katri Mattsson	100	2	1999–2015

Source:[6]

Top goalscorers

Linda Sällström currently holds the record for the most goals for the Finland women's national football team.

Rank	Player	Goals	Caps	Years	Avg
1	Linda Sällström	51	120	2007–	0,425
2	Laura Österberg Kalmari	41	130	1996–2011	0,315
3	Sanna Talonen	36	103	2004–2014	0,35
4	Emmi Alanen	21	97	2010–	0,216
5	Annica Sjölund	17	69	2006–2014	0,246
6	Anne Mäkinen	16	118	1991–2009	0,136
7	Heidi Kackur	12	48	1999–2005	0,25
7	Adelina Engman	12	85	2012–	0,141
9	Maija Saari	11	94	2007–2016	0,117
10	Ria Öling	9	62	2015–	0,145
11	Anu Toikka	8	29	1979–1992	0,276
	Susanna Heikari	8	44	1994–2002	0,182
	Anna-Kaisa Rantanen	8	105	1996–2011	0,076