Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/02/10/nations-league-opponents-confirmed-finns-overseas-transfers/ IN THIS EPISODE... New year, new format FFS. Shorter shows, but more regularly. Hopefully! As the Veikkausliiga teams build up to the season starting, behind the scenes there's plenty of action. In this episode, Mark W, Rich & Keke look at recent transfers for Veikkausliiga teams and players, as well as Finns moving around overseas. Then they look at the draw...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/02/06/head-coach-confusion-hifk-bankruptcy-liigacup-suomen-cup-nations-league-draw/ IN THIS EPISODE... There hasn't been too much action on the pitch, bt there's been plenty off it. In this episode, Mark W, Rich & Keke look at the managerial situation at HJK and SJK and get to teh bottom of why both clubs have substitute head coaches. They also look at the situation at HIFK, who went bankrupt (again), did not renew it's...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2023/12/12/helmarit-match-reports-veikkausliiga-news-update-new-sjk-coach-hjk-final-euro-match/  IN THIS EPISODE... Women's Nations League 2023, Group B2, Games 5 & 6.  Whew, this really is a jam-packed episode, as Mark W and Rich review the final two Women's Nations League games for Finland's Helmarit; a dominant 6-0 win over 10-woman Romania and a battling 2-2 draw away in Slovakia. They also look at the potential impact of this...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2023/11/24/huuhkajat-match-reports-euro-2024-qualifiers-euro-2024-playoffs-helmarit-nations-league-preview/ IN THIS EPISODE... UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifiers, Group H, Games 9 & 10.  A positive end to the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign for the Huuhkajat. A 'dictionary definition dead-rubber' vs Northern Ireland, was transformed into a thumping 4-0 win around halftime. And even though a 2-1 vistory in San Marino is a little too close for...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2023/11/14/huuhkajat-euro2024-qualifiers-hjk-in-europa-conference-league-veikkausliigas-crisis-clubs/ IN THIS EPISODE... Olympia Stadion, Helsinki, 17th Nov 2023 | San Marino Stadium, Serravalle, 20th Nov 2023.  Mark W battled on bravely with a heavy cold, luckily, Ally & Keke joined him to preview the fifth and final round of qualifying fixtures for Euro 2024. Finland's Huuhkajat host Northern Ireland at home, before travelling,...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2023/11/07/finland-3-0-croatia-and-croatia-0-2-finland-veikkausliiga-ends-hjk-europa-conference-managers-on-the-move/ IN THIS EPISODE... Women's Nations League 2023, Group B2, Games 3 & 4.  Mark W and Keke review the two most recent games for the Finland women's national team, as the Helmarit steamrollered over Croatia, twice, home and away. A truly dominant home victory (just look at the match stats) was followed up by an equally...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2023/10/24/helmarit-preview-finland-vs-croatia-hjk-helsinki-crowned-veikkausliiga-champions/ IN THIS EPISODE... Bolt Arena, Helsinki, 27th Oct 2023 | Sibenik, Croatia, 31st Oct 2023 Mark W and Keke preview the next round of games in the Women's Nations League, as the Helmarit face a double-header against Croatia. They look at the consistent Finland squad selections, the upcoming opponents Croatia, and make their predictions. They also...

Slovenia 3-0 Finland & Finland 1-2 Kazakhstan IN THIS EPISODE... UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifiers, Group H, Games 7 & 8 A shocking couple of days for the Huuhkajat, which started with a resounding away defeat against Slovenia and culminated in a last-minute defeat against Kazakhstan. Both of which condemn Finland to miss out on automatic qualification and require the potential Nations League playoffs, to make it to Germany 2024. Mark W, Ally, Keke & Mark H talk through their perspectives...

IN THIS EPISODE... Euro 2024. Stadion Stožice, Ljubljana, 14th Oct 2023 | Olympia Stadion, Helsinki, 17th Sept 2023 Mark W and Ally preview the fourth round of qualifying fixtures for Euro 2024, as Finland's Huuhkajat travel to Slovenia before facing Kazakhstan at home in a Group H that remains open with only one point (and a few goals) separating the top four teams. They talk through a Finland squad that has a few changes to its personnel, while our guest Nik Jöst, AKA @sloveninho1, brings...

IN THIS EPISODE... Mark W chats to Ilves fan Jamie about his day out at the men's Suomen Cup final, as Ilves beat Honka 2-1 to win the trophy and salvage what was shaping-up to be a poor season. In the women's Suomen Cup final, KuPS beat HJK 5-0.  Mark & Jamie also talk about the recent round of Veikkausliiga games and how the Haastajasarja has helped Ilves find the form they needed to win the cup and qualify for Europe, which sets Ilves up perfectly for the opening of their new stadium...

IN THIS EPISODE... Women's Nations League 2023, Group B2, Games 1 & 2.  Mark W and Rich look back at Finland's two recent games in the Women's Nations League, as the Helmarit took maximum points from Slovakia and Romania. A relatively straightforward 4-0 home win, followed by a battle against heat, humidty and Romania, played on a soft, freshly-ploughed field! They also look at the second round of matches in the Veikkausliiga Mestarus- and Haastaja- series: As VPS Vaasa continue to brush...

IN THIS EPISODE... Women's Nations League 2023. Veritas Stadion, Turku, 22nd Sept 2023 | Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Bukarest, 26th Sept 2023 Mark W and Keke preview the inaugural Women's Nations League, bringing you a brief overview of this new competiton and how the qualfying competitons for the women's tournaments are neatly aligned! They look at the Finland squad selections, the upcoming opponents Slovakia, Romania and Croatia, assess the recent form and consider the Helmarit's chances of...

IN THIS EPISODE... UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifiers, Group H, Games 5 & 6 The Huuhkajat battled to three more important points to remain among the contenders at the top of qualifying group H. The 1-0 win away to Kazakhstan saw a dogged Finland control possession and take a late win, through Oliver Antman, in a scrappy match. Roles were reversed against Denmark, who dominated possession and goalscoring chances but had to wait until late before securing the winning goal. Lukáš Hradecký pulled off...

IN THIS EPISODE... Euro 2024. Astana Arena, Astana, 7th Sept 2023 | Olympia Stadion, Helsinki, 10th Sept 2023.  Mark W, Keke, Ally and Rich preview the third round of qualifying fixtures for Euro 2024, as Finland's Huuhkajat travel to Kazakhstan before facing Denmark at home in a very finely-balanced Group H. They talk through a familiar looking Finland squad and even did some research into the opponents – you can be the judge on how effective that was! They also look at the final standings...

IN THIS EPISODE... We're fast approaching the business end of the season, when the Veikkausliiga splits into the Mestaruussarja (Champions series) and the Haastajasrja (Challenger series). So Mark W & Rich take a detailed look at the recent Veikkausliiga action, including WTF have they put in the water in Vaasa? And who has tampered with the lasagne in Seinäjoki? They previously discussed the Finnish clubs in European action and take another look at HJK Helsinki's annual tour of all three...

IN THIS EPISODE... After the recent fun of watching the Huuhkajat score a hatful of goals, the team is back to look at the recent action for the Finnish club sides. Mark W, Keke, Ally & Rich start by looking at the early rounds of European action, with HJK progressing in the Champions League, and KuPS, Haka & Honka in Europa Conference action. Talk then turns to the domestic scene and Mark & Ally lock horns (gently!) to look forward to the big SJK vs HJK match this coming weekend....

IN THIS EPISODE... In this episode, Keke and Mark W are joined by another Huuhkajat star, Juha Pirinen. A versatile left-sided player and former Finland international with 20 caps, two Veikkausliiga Championships and a Suomen Cup to his name.  'Piri' talks us through his early career playing in the Veikkausliiga, starting at his hometown club, Haka, and the influence of his father and uncle, who were both professional footballers. His domestic career took in MyPa, RoPS and HJK and included...

IN THIS EPISODE... UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifiers, Group H, Games 3 and 4 The Huuhkajat gain two wins (and two clean sheets) to build a lead at the top of qualifying group H on goal difference. The 2-0 win against Slovenia saw Finland ride their luck while facing many goalscoring opportunities from their opponents. While during the 6-0 win against San Marino, Finland dominated possession and faced only one shot (on target) as they gained a commanding victory. Star player of the weekend is no...

IN THIS EPISODE... Euro 2024. Olympia Stadion, Helsinki – 16th and 19th June 2023 Mark W, Rich and Keke preview the second round of qualifying fixtures for Euro 2024, as Finland takes on Slovenia and San Marino in Group H. They talk through the Finland squad in some detail, welcoming the new faces, speculating on the team selection, formations, etc. and don't have too much to say about the Huuhkajat's upcoming opponents – sorry about that! Blog: show notes and links...

IN THIS EPISODE... The main series of the Veikkausliiga season is now at the 30% stage, so Mark W and Rich focus mostly on that in this episode. Who are the slightly-surprising, new league leaders? Who are already struggling to keep up? And who are striving for mid-table safety? To answer these questions, they are joined by Ally and listener, Jamie, who talk about their teams, HJK Helskinki and Ilves. They also look at the Suomen Cup now heading into round 5, and Mark W shares his 2023 Suomen...

IN THIS EPISODE... Lots to discuss as the Veikkausliiga gets going, with most teams having played at least 5 games. So Mark W, Keke, Rich and Ally recovene to look at the opening rounds. What's new? SJK winning. What's old? HJK at the top. And any surprises at this early stage. They also look at the early rounds of the Suomen Cup, with a couple of first-hand accounts of games in Seinäjoki from Mark. Rich also tells us all about the draw for the inaugural Women's Nations League. And there's a...

IN THIS EPISODE... UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifier, Group H, Games 1 &  2 After a hectic week of Euro 2024 qualifying action, Mark W, Keke, Ally and Mark H (yep, surprised us too!) look back at Finland's first two games. A 3-1 defeat away to Denmark and a 1-0 win in Northern Ireland, leaves Finland with 3 points, along with most of the other group. All of who are trailing early leaders... Slovenia! 😳 Blog: show notes and links...

IN THIS EPISODE... Euro 2024. Copenhagen & Belfast – 23rd and 26th March 2023 Mark W, Rich and Keke preview the first round of qualifying fixtures for Euro 2024, as Finland takes on Denmark & Northern Ireland in Group H. They talk through the Finland squad in some detail and the Huuhkajat's upcoming opponents – Denmark & Northern Ireland – in slightly less detail, all the while speculating on team selection, formations, etc. Blog: show notes and links...

IN THIS EPISODE... It's the Mark W & Keke Show again (sorry!) but we wanted to keep you informed as we plough through the closed season. Firstly, Keke reviews the recent performances of the women's national team, the Helmarit, in winning the Cyprus Cup competition against Croatia, Romania and Hungary. Next, Mark looks at the recent Liigacup results as the group stage nears its conclusion ahead of the semi-final stage. They also look at some of the more notable transfers involving Finnish...

IN THIS EPISODE... This episode is a follow-on from an epsisode back in  2020, requested by FFS listener, Kevin Moseley, about the origins of the Finnish Football Show. Ally joined the FFS team in mid-2022, so we thought it was about time to find out more about him as Mark W asks just who IS Ally Manson? That previous 'FFS Origins' episode https://finnishfootballshow.com/2020/10/29/ffs-origins-stories/ Blog: show notes and links...