Women’s Euro 2025 Team Previews | Finland
Defence will be the key for Finland as they hope to reach the knockout stages of the Women’s European Championships for the first time since 2009.
Finland are a nation that haven’t had the best time at the last two European Championships they have appeared at, but the opportunity has arisen for them with the group that they find themselves in.
They have been a team that has tried to solidify themselves on having a good defence for a while now, something which has proven to have worked in some respects, especially within their qualifying run to reach next month’s Women’s Euros. It should also be mentioned that their recent form has seen them keep goals conceded to a minimum in their recent Women’s Nations League campaign, having only conceded twice over those six games.
It took getting through the playoffs following a tough outing in their qualifying group to reach this tournament, but in doing so, they held Montenegro over two legs and subsequently did the same against Scotland. No goals conceded against either of those two teams in the process.
Group A opponents and fixtures:
Iceland | 2nd July - 5PM BST
Norway | 6th July - 5PM BST
Switzerland | 10th July - 8PM BST
Unlike the other teams in this group, Finland haven’t faced any of the three in recent competitive games. They came up against Norway in the group stage of qualifying where they were beaten heavily in the first meeting, but then drew in the second encounter. Since qualifying, they haven’t faced any other team who are competing at the tournament.
Squad:
Goalkeepers | Anna Koivunen (Djurgårdens), Tinja-Riikka Korpela (Servette), Anna Tamminen (Hammarby IF)
Defenders | Eva Nyström (West Ham United), Emma Koivisto (AC Milan), Joanna Tynnilä (SK Brann), Emmi Siren (FC Nordsjælland), Nora Heroum (Sampdoria), Natalia Kuikka (Chicago Stars), Nea Lehtola (SK Brann), Maaria Roth (HJK)
Midfielders | Vilma Koivisto (Linköping FC), Eveliina Summanen (Tottenham Hotspur), Ria Öling (Free Agent), Adelina Engman (Como), Olga Ahtinen (Tottenham), Katariina Kosola (Malmo), Oona Siren (West Ham)
Forwards | Heidi Kollanen (Vittsjö GIK), Sanni Franssi (Real Sociedad), Linda Sällström (Vittsjö GIK), Oona Sevenius (FC Rosengård), Jutta Rantala (Leicester City)
Twenty years ago, Finland reached the semi-finals of the 2025 competition where they were beaten by the eventual winners Germany. Since then, they haven’t been able to replicate that sort of run with no real sign of their experienced players being able to match it.
Their forward and captain Linda Sällström will be 36-years-old heading into this tournament with 151 caps for Finland and 64 goals scored. She’s still heavily relied upon for the goals in the team. Goalkeeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela is heading into another major tournament with her country as well at the age of 39-years old.
If they were to look for goals elsewhere in the squad, Tottenham’s Eveliina Summanen has stepped up before for a goal or two, as have Adelina Engman and Ria Öling.
There are some big positives for Finland in their squad, firstly, they do have Jutta Rantala available and in their 23 after a season where she had a lot of injury troubles at Leicester City in the WSL. She could be pivotal for them in their attack.
Player to Watch - Emma Koivisto
With over 80 caps for the Finnish women’s national team, Emma Koivisto has been one of the many consistent regulars within the squad. The former Liverpool and current AC Milan defender has been a reliable player for them, even more so under Mario Saloranta more times than not.
The full-back isn’t just a good in defence and being able to read the game well. She is good on the forward side of things too, and her abilities in being able to operate as a wide outlet are a benefit to Finland’s attacking play, while also providing some needed balance in defence.
She picks her moments very well when to get forward in transitions, plus she has shown the stamina in being able to stay relentless and be where she needs to be to help the team out. To the younger players in the team, she is someone who they look to as a leader and for a major tournament like this, that will be pivotal when they need players to step up in big moments.
Manager - Marko Saloranta
Having had an extensive career in Finnish women’s football having been assistant coach of the senior national side for a few years, then been head coach of the youth teams and also interim head coach of the senior side a couple of times, Marko Saloranta is set to for his first time at a major tournament with Finland.
He took full charge back in 2023 through the qualifying stages and given how well he does know the team and many of the players around him, it has allowed him to know the best strengths of the players at his disposal and it has made them a better team overall.
They have actually been very adaptable in a tactical sense in being able to play in different formations. No matter how they set up, the idea is that they still play under the philosophy that Saloranta has established, and it has shown that it can work for them.
How will they do?
Finland are an interesting team to think about for this tournament. In terms of a minimum target for how they do, they will obviously be aiming to progress through the group stages, but a lot of that possibility is going to come down to their performances.
Previously, we have seen at past tournaments where they have had the odd good showing here and there, yet it hasn’t led to progression. As good as the defensive outlook might be, it’s goals that are going to be so important for them and that’s where they may come unstuck.
Getting a result against Iceland in the tournament opener will be key to begin with, then it’s all about the games with Norway and Switzerland. If they make themselves tough to beat, then they may get some fortune.