Finland’s hopes of qualifying for UEFA EURO 2016 are still alive following back-to-back victories over Greece and the Faroe Islands during the latest FIFA international break.
Halsti and co. withstood a dominant showing from the Greeks in Athens, who, despite registering 20 total shots, only managed three efforts on goal and were held scoreless at home for the fourth time. The Finns’ only shot on goal proved crucial, when 20-year-old Joel Pohjanpalo blasted home from 12 yards out in the 75th minute.
Playing at home in Helsingin Olympiastadion three days later, Finland looked much more comfortable against the small North Atlantic island nation. Halsti helped anchor the midfield that controlled 53 percent of the possession and complete 366 passes, more than the Faroes even attempted. Pohjanpalo scored his second goal in four days after he headed home the rebound from Alexander Ring’s shot off the crossbar, and Finland held on for the 1-0 win, eliminating the Faroes from qualification.
Finland (3-4-1, 10 points) is now within three points of third-placed Hungary (3-1-4, 13 points) with two games to play and six behind second-place Romania (4-0-4, 16 points). Northern Ireland (5-1-2, 17 points) leads the group while winless Greece (0-5-3, three points) has had a dreadful campaign and is in last place, behind even the Faroes (2-6-0, six points).
The Finns travel to Bucharest Oct. 8 to play Romania, who are ranked seventh in the world in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings, before finishing the qualifying round at home against Northern Ireland on Oct. 11 in Helsinki. Hungary’s final two matches are at home against the Faroe Islands and then away at Greece. The Romanians also face the Faroes on the final matchday of group play.
