Finland national football team
![]() | |||
Nickname(s) | Huuhkajat (The Eagle-owls)[1] | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Football Association of Finland | ||
Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | ||
Head coach | Markku Kanerva | ||
Captain | Lukas Hradecky | ||
Most caps | Jari Litmanen (137) | ||
Top scorer | Teemu Pukki (42) | ||
Home stadium | Helsinki Olympic Stadium | ||
FIFA code | FIN | ||
| |||
FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 63 ![]() | ||
Highest | 33 (March 2007) | ||
Lowest | 110 (July–August 2017) | ||
First international | |||
![]() ![]() (Helsinki, Finland; 22 October 1911) as Finland ![]() ![]() (Stockholm, Sweden; 29 May 1919) | |||
Biggest win | |||
![]() ![]() (Helsinki, Finland; 11 August 1922) ![]() ![]() (Helsinki, Finland; 17 November 2010) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
![]() ![]() (Leipzig, Germany; 1 September 1940) | |||
European Championship | |||
Appearances | 1 (first in 2020) | ||
Best result | Group stage (2020) | ||
Olympic Games | |||
Appearances | 4 (first in 1912) | ||
Best result | Fourth place (1912) | ||
Baltic Cup | |||
Appearances | 2 (first in 2012) | ||
Best result | Runners-up (2012) |
The Finland national football team (Finnish: Suomen jalkapallomaajoukkue, Swedish: Finlands fotbollslandslag) represents Finland in men's international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Finland, the governing body for football in Finland, which was founded in 1907. The team has been a member of FIFA since 1908 and a UEFA member since 1957.
Finland had never qualified for a major tournament until securing a spot at UEFA Euro 2020.[5] After decades of average results and campaigns, the nation made progress in the 2000s, achieving notable results against established European teams and reaching a peak of 33rd in the FIFA World Rankings in 2007. Afterward, their performances and results declined, drawing them to their all-time low of 110th in the FIFA Rankings in 2017. Seven years after their all-time low in the FIFA Rankings, as of July 2024, they sit at 63rd place in the overall ranking.[6]
History
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Moscow_v_Finland%2C_1912%2C_Zamoskvoretsky_Club%2C_Moscow.png/220px-Moscow_v_Finland%2C_1912%2C_Zamoskvoretsky_Club%2C_Moscow.png)
Early history
[edit]The Football Association of Finland was founded in 1907 and became a member of FIFA the next year. At the time, Finland was an autonomous grand duchy ruled by the Russian Emperors. Finland played its first international on 22 October 1911, as Sweden beat the Finns at the Eläintarha Stadium in Helsinki. Finland participated the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, beating Italy and the Russian Empire, but losing the bronze medal match against the Netherlands.
Period of dispersion
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/FIN-NationalFootballTeam1933.png/220px-FIN-NationalFootballTeam1933.png)
After the 1918 Civil War, the Finnish sports movement was divided into the right-wing Finnish Gymnastics and Sports Federation (SVUL) and the leftist Finnish Workers' Sports Federation (TUL), Finnish Football Association was a member of the SVUL.[7] Both sides had their own championship series, and between 1919 and 1939 the Finland national team was selected of the Football Association players only. The Finnish Workers' Sports Federation football team in turn, participated in the competitions of the international labour movement.[8]
However, since the late 1920s several top footballers defected from TUL and joined the Football Association to be eligible for the national team. During the 1930s, these ″defectors″ formed the spine of the national team. For example, the Finland squad at the 1936 Summer Olympics was composed of eight former TUL players.[8] In 1937, Finland participated the FIFA World Cup qualification for the first time, losing all three matches against Sweden, Germany and Estonia.
Since 1939, TUL players were selected for the national team and finally, in 1956, the TUL and Football Association series were merged.[8]
Post-war years
[edit]The 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki saw the Finnish hosts lose to Austria in the first round. Finland did, however, win the unofficial Nordic championship in 1964 and 1966.[9]
Finland also took part in European Championship qualifying since the 1968 event, but had to wait for its first win until 1978.
Late 20th century
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Suomi_Jugoslavia.jpg/220px-Suomi_Jugoslavia.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Nederland_tegen_Finland_4-1_Harry_Lubse_rechts_in_aktie_tegen_de_Finse_keeper_E%2C_Bestanddeelnr_928-1355.jpg/220px-Nederland_tegen_Finland_4-1_Harry_Lubse_rechts_in_aktie_tegen_de_Finse_keeper_E%2C_Bestanddeelnr_928-1355.jpg)
Finland missed out on qualification for Euro 1980 by just a point and for the 1986 World Cup by two points. Finland was invited to take part in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow after many Western countries announced they would boycott the games, but failed to progress from its group.
By the mid-1990s Finland started to have more players in high-profile European leagues, led by Ajax superstar Jari Litmanen.[10] In 1996, Euro 1992-winning coach Richard Møller Nielsen was hired to take Finland to the 1998 World Cup. The team enjoyed mixed fortunes in the campaign, the high points of which were a draw and a win away to Norway and Switzerland respectively. Going into the last match, Finland would have needed a win at home to Hungary to earn a place in the play-offs. They led the game 1–0 going into injury time, but scored an own goal, and their qualification campaign was over. Møller Nielsen also tried to lead Finland to Euro 2000. In this campaign, the Finns recorded a sensational win away to Turkey, but couldn't compete with Germany and Turkey in the long run.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Jari_Litmanen_2015.jpg/150px-Jari_Litmanen_2015.jpg)
Antti Muurinen succeeded Møller Nielsen as coach in 2000. He had arguably the most talented group of Finnish players ever at his disposal, including players such as Antti Niemi, Sami Hyypiä, Teemu Tainio and Mikael Forssell in addition to the legendary Litmanen. The team also performed quite well under him in qualification for the 2002 World Cup despite a difficult draw, earning two draws against Germany and a home draw with England as well as beating Greece 5–1 in Helsinki. In the end, however, England and Germany proved too strong, and the Finns finished third in the group, but were the only team in that group not to lose at home. Hopes were high going into qualification for Euro 2004 after the promising last campaign and friendly wins over the likes of Norway, Belgium and Portugal (which seen the Finns jump from 40th to 30th in the Elo ranking[4]). However, Finland started the campaign by losing to Wales and Yugoslavia (later Serbia and Montenegro, now two separate nations). These losses were followed by two defeats by Italy, and a 3–0 home win over Serbia and Montenegro was little consolation, as the Finns finished fourth in the group. In qualification for the 2006 World Cup Finland failed to score a single point in six matches against the top three teams in their group, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Romania. Muurinen was sacked in June 2005, and he was replaced by caretaker Jyrki Heliskoski, but results didn't improve.
In August 2005, it was announced that Englishman Roy Hodgson would become the new Finland coach in 2006, and he started the job in January of that year. Hodgson stepped down as manager after they failed to qualify for Euro 2008.[11] His replacement was a Scotsman, Stuart Baxter, who signed a contract until the end of the 2012 European Championship qualification campaign.[12]
Recent history
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Markku_Kanerva_2021.jpg/150px-Markku_Kanerva_2021.jpg)
In the Euro 2008 qualifying Finland needed to win their last qualifying game away to Portugal to qualify for their first major football tournament. However, the match ended 0–0 meaning the team missed out on qualification to the tournament, with Finland ending the group stage with 24 points and Portugal with 27 points. However, the performance in qualifying led to the Finns gaining their best-ever FIFA world ranking to date at 33rd.
The 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign under new head coach Stuart Baxter saw Finland again finish third in their group with five wins, three draws and two defeats. They were the only team in qualifying not to lose to eventual 3rd-place finishers Germany; in both the home and away matches Finland had led Germany only to concede late equalizers.
Mixu Paatelainen era
[edit]During the Euro 2012 qualifying, head coach Baxter was sacked, and on 31 March 2011 he was replaced by former national team player Mixu Paatelainen. Paatelainen started his tenure with a win against San Marino, only to be followed by a 5–0 loss against Sweden. Finland eventually finished fourth in its group with only three wins, two of them against San Marino.
Paatelainen's deal with the Finnish FA extended until 2016, covering the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers, and also the next 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification and the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers. As Finland was already eliminated from UEFA Euro 2012, his main task was to renew the national team with a generation switch, and try to qualify for one or more of the tournaments during his projected tenure as Finland's head coach. This included ultimately leaving out Jari Litmanen, team's long-served captain and "The King of Finnish Football".[13]
In the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, Finland's best result was a 1–1 draw at reigning world champions Spain. They finished third in the five-team Group I, behind Spain and France. On 14 June 2015, Paatelainen was sacked following his fourth defeat in a row during the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. Finland eventually finished fourth in Euro 2016 qualifying under guidance of a caretaker manager Markku Kanerva. They achieved a somewhat noteworthy result; Joel Pohjanpalo's goal gave the Finns a 1–0 win at former European champions Greece, who had reached the second round of the 2014 World Cup and were the top seeds of their qualifying group.
Hans Backe
[edit]On 12 August 2015, Swedish Hans Backe was named the new manager, starting on 1 January 2016.[14] His first official match with the team was held on 10 January 2016, and ended in a 3–0 defeat by Sweden.[15] On 12 December 2016, Backe was fired during the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, and a former assistant and caretaker Markku Kanerva was named the new head coach.[16] Finland did not win a single game during Backe's time as head coach. His record during 2016 was nine defeats and two draws.
Markku Kanerva era
[edit]Kanerva continued to guide the team in the 2018 qualifiers, achieving two wins against Iceland and Kosovo, and two draws against Croatia and Turkey. Finland ultimately finished fifth in the group.
On 15 November 2019, Finland managed to qualify to the first major tournament, UEFA Euro 2020, in their history after defeating Liechtenstein 3–0.[17][5] The successful qualifying campaign in Group J, was aided by a distinctive performance of Teemu Pukki, who scored ten goals in the qualifications.[18]
On 12 June 2021 in the Euro 2020 Finland had their first victory on their debut in a major tournament finals, Joel Pohjanpalo scored the only goal, a header in a 1–0 win over Denmark to grant his country their first goal and win in a major competition.[19] Unfortunately, having lost the next two games from both Russia and Belgium to finish third, Finland was eliminated from the group stage alongside fellow debutants North Macedonia as a result of their poor performance after being edged out by fourth placed team Ukraine among third place teams due to goal difference.
Home stadiums
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Lyhdynkantajat_EM-asussa_1.jpg/220px-Lyhdynkantajat_EM-asussa_1.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Pohjoiskaarre-SMJK.jpg/200px-Pohjoiskaarre-SMJK.jpg)
Most of Finland's home matches are played at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium in the capital, Helsinki. It has been Finland's principal home stadium ever since its construction was completed in 1938. Before that, Pallokenttä in Helsinki was mainly used.
Today, some qualifying matches against lower profile opponents and some friendlies are hosted at the Tampere Stadium in Tampere and Veritas Stadion in Turku. Helsinki's Bolt Arena, which has artificial turf, is also used for some friendlies and qualifiers. During the reconstruction of Helsinki Olympic Stadium in 2016–20, Tampere Stadium served as the main stadium for qualifying games.
Kits and crest
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Kit_left_arm.svg/31px-Kit_left_arm.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Kit_body_fin20h.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Kit_body.svg/38px-Kit_body.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Kit_right_arm.svg/31px-Kit_right_arm.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Kit_shorts_fin20h.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Kit_shorts.svg/100px-Kit_shorts.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Kit_socks_long.svg/100px-Kit_socks_long.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
Finland's kit are currently supplied by American brand Nike. They replaced German company Adidas, who supplied Finland's kits between 1979 and 2013.
Kit sponsorship
[edit]Kit supplier | Period |
---|---|
![]() |
1979–2013 |
![]() |
2014–present |
Results and fixtures
[edit]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
2023
[edit]7 September 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying | Kazakhstan ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() | Astana, Kazakhstan |
20:00 UTC+6 | Report |
|
Stadium: Astana Arena Attendance: 30,019 Referee: Radu Petrescu (Romania) |
10 September 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying | Finland ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() | Helsinki, Finland |
19:00 UTC+3 | Report |
|
Stadium: Helsinki Olympic Stadium Attendance: 32,571 Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland) |
14 October 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying | Slovenia ![]() | 3–0 | ![]() | Ljubljana, Slovenia |
18:00 UTC+2 | Report | Stadium: Stožice Stadium Attendance: 15,823 Referee: Daniele Orsato (Italy) |
17 October 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying | Finland ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() | Helsinki, Finland |
19:00 UTC+3 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Helsinki Olympic Stadium Attendance: 30,375 Referee: Irfan Peljto (Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
17 November 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying | Finland ![]() | 4–0 | ![]() | Helsinki, Finland |
19:00 UTC+2 |
|
Report | Stadium: Helsinki Olympic Stadium Attendance: 28,711 Referee: Aliyar Aghayev (Azerbaijan) |
20 November 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying | San Marino ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() | Serravalle, San Marino |
20:45 UTC+1 | Report |
|
Stadium: Stadio Olimpico de Serravalle Attendance: 1,427 Referee: Manfredas Lukjančukas (Lithuania) |
2024
[edit]21 March 2024 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying play-offs | Wales ![]() | 4–1 | ![]() | Cardiff, Wales |
20:45 | Report |
|
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium Attendance: 32,162 Referee: István Kovács (Romania) |
26 March 2024 Friendly | Finland ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() | Helsinki, Finland |
17:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Helsinki Olympic Stadium Attendance: 12,559 Referee: Mads Kristoffersen (Denmark) |
4 June 2024 Friendly | Portugal ![]() | 4–2 | ![]() | Lisbon, Portugal |
19:45 UTC+1 | Report |
|
Stadium: Estádio José Alvalade Attendance: 43,125 Referee: Christian-Petru Ciochirca (Austria) |
7 June 2024 Friendly | Scotland ![]() | 2–2 | ![]() | Glasgow, Scotland |
19:45 UTC+1 | Report | Stadium: Hampden Park Attendance: 40,519 Referee: Łukasz Kuźma (Poland) |
7 September 2024 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B Group 2 | Greece ![]() | v | ![]() | Athens, Greece |
Stadium: Agia Sophia Stadium |
10 September 2024 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B Group 2 | England ![]() | v | ![]() | London, England |
Stadium: Wembley Stadium |
10 October 2024 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B Group 2 | Finland ![]() | v | ![]() | Helsinki, Finland |
Stadium: Bolt Arena |
13 October 2024 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B Group 2 | Finland ![]() | v | ![]() | Helsinki, Finland |
Stadium: Helsinki Olympic Stadium |
14 November 2024 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B Group 2 | Republic of Ireland ![]() | v | ![]() | Dublin, Ireland |
Stadium: Aviva Stadium |
17 November 2024 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B Group 2 | Finland ![]() | v | ![]() | Helsinki, Finland |
Stadium: Helsinki Olympic Stadium |
Coaching staff
[edit]Position | Name |
---|---|
Head coach | ![]() |
Assistant coach | ![]() |
![]() | |
![]() | |
Goalkeeping coach | ![]() |
Fitness coach | ![]() |
![]() | |
Physiotherapists | ![]() |
![]() | |
Video analyst | ![]() |
![]() | |
Doctor | ![]() |
Osteopath | ![]() |
Kit Manager | ![]() |
Team Manager | ![]() |
Technical director | ![]() |
Coaching history
[edit]- As of 7 June 2024.
Tenure | Nat | Coach | Record | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||||
1911–21 | None | 17 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 35.29 | ||||
1922 | ![]() |
Jarl Öhman | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 25.00 | |||
1923–35 | None | 77 | 22 | 12 | 43 | 28.57 | ||||
1936–37 | ![]() |
Ferdinand Fabra | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 12.50 | |||
1937–38 | None | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 33.33 | ||||
1939 | ![]() |
Gábor Obitz | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 16.67 | |||
1939–43 | None | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0.00 | ||||
1945 | ![]() |
Axel Mårtensson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | |||
1946 | ![]() |
Niilo Tammisalo | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | |||
1947–55 | ![]() |
Aatos Lehtonen | 51 | 7 | 9 | 35 | 13.73 | |||
1955–58 | ![]() |
Kurt Weinreich | 23 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 13.04 | |||
1959–61 | ![]() |
Aatos Lehtonen | 19 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 15.79 | |||
1962–74 | ![]() |
Olavi Laaksonen | 91 | 16 | 21 | 54 | 17.58 | |||
1975 | ![]() |
Martti Kosma | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.00 | |||
1975–78 | ![]() |
Aulis Rytkönen | 30 | 8 | 4 | 18 | 26.67 | |||
1979–81 | ![]() |
Esko Malm | 27 | 4 | 6 | 17 | 14.81 | |||
1982–87 | ![]() |
Martti Kuusela | 53 | 9 | 11 | 33 | 16.98 | |||
1988–92 | ![]() |
Jukka Vakkila | 48 | 7 | 21 | 20 | 14.58 | |||
1993–94 | ![]() |
Tommy Lindholm | 25 | 5 | 7 | 13 | 20.00 | |||
1994–96 | ![]() |
Jukka Ikäläinen | 21 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 33.33 | |||
1996–99 | ![]() |
Richard Møller Nielsen | 34 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 26.47 | |||
2000–05 | ![]() |
Antti Muurinen | 72 | 34 | 12 | 26 | 47.22 | |||
2005 | ![]() |
Jyrki Heliskoski (caretaker) | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 33.33 | |||
2006–07 | ![]() |
Roy Hodgson | 22 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 27.27 | |||
2008–10 | ![]() |
Stuart Baxter | 31 | 8 | 6 | 17 | 25.81 | |||
2010–2011 | ![]() |
Olli Huttunen (caretaker) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | |||
2011 | ![]() |
Markku Kanerva (caretaker) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.00 | |||
2011–2015 | ![]() |
Mixu Paatelainen | 45 | 17 | 11 | 17 | 37.78 | |||
2015 | ![]() |
Markku Kanerva (caretaker) | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50.00 | |||
2016 | ![]() |
Hasse Backe | 11 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0.00 | |||
2016– | ![]() |
Markku Kanerva | 83 | 36 | 14 | 33 | 43.37 | |||
Total | 804 | 203 | 168 | 433 | 25.25 |
Players
[edit]Current squad
[edit]The following players were called up for UEFA Nations League matches against Greece and England on 7 and 10 September 2024, respectively.[23]
Caps and goals as of 7 June 2024, after the match against Scotland.
Recent call-ups
[edit]The following players have been called up for the team within the last twelve months and are still available for selection.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Hugo Keto | 9 February 1998 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Nikolai Alho | 12 March 1993 | 37 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Richard Jensen | 17 March 1996 | 14 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Pyry Soiri | 22 September 1994 | 45 | 7 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Noah Pallas | 9 February 2001 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Diogo Tomas | 31 July 1997 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Kevin Kouassivi-Benissan | 25 January 1999 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Niilo Mäenpää | 14 January 1998 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Anssi Suhonen | 14 January 2001 | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Robert Taylor | 21 October 1994 | 34 | 2 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Lucas Lingman | 25 January 1998 | 11 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Juho Talvitie | 25 March 2005 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Casper Terho | 24 June 2003 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Marcus Forss | 18 June 1999 | 21 | 2 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
|
Player records
[edit]- As of 7 June 2024.[24]
Most appearances
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Litmanen_jari.jpg/220px-Litmanen_jari.jpg)
Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jari Litmanen | 137 | 32 | 1989–2010 |
2 | Teemu Pukki | 122 | 42 | 2009–present |
3 | Sami Hyypiä | 106 | 5 | 1992–2010 |
Jonatan Johansson | 106 | 22 | 1996–2010 | |
5 | Ari Hjelm | 100 | 20 | 1983–1996 |
6 | Joonas Kolkka | 98 | 11 | 1994–2010 |
7 | Lukas Hradecky | 92 | 0 | 2010–present |
8 | Mikael Forssell | 87 | 29 | 1999–2014 |
9 | Erkka Petäjä | 84 | 0 | 1983–1994 |
Tim Sparv | 84 | 1 | 2009–2021 |
Top goalscorers
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Norwich_2_Chelsea_3_-_Teemu_Pukki.jpg/180px-Norwich_2_Chelsea_3_-_Teemu_Pukki.jpg)
Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Teemu Pukki | 42 | 122 | 0.34 | 2009–present |
2 | Jari Litmanen | 32 | 137 | 0.23 | 1989–2010 |
3 | Mikael Forssell | 29 | 87 | 0.33 | 1999–2014 |
4 | Jonatan Johansson | 22 | 106 | 0.21 | 1996–2010 |
5 | Ari Hjelm | 20 | 100 | 0.2 | 1983–1996 |
6 | Mixu Paatelainen | 18 | 70 | 0.26 | 1986–2000 |
7 | Verner Eklöf | 17 | 32 | 0.53 | 1919–1927 |
8 | Aulis Koponen | 16 | 39 | 0.41 | 1924–1935 |
Gunnar Åström | 16 | 44 | 0.36 | 1923–1937 | |
10 | Joel Pohjanpalo | 15 | 72 | 0.21 | 2012–present |
Competitive record
[edit]FIFA World Cup
[edit]FIFA World Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Campaign | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
![]() |
Did not enter | Declined invitation | ||||||||||||||
![]() |
Did not enter | |||||||||||||||
![]() |
Did not qualify | 1938 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||
![]() |
Withdrew during qualifying | 1950 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||||||||
![]() |
Did not qualify | 1954 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 13 | ||||||||
![]() |
1958 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 19 | |||||||||
![]() |
1962 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 12 | |||||||||
![]() |
1966 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 20 | |||||||||
![]() |
1970 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 28 | |||||||||
![]() |
1974 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 21 | |||||||||
![]() |
1978 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 16 | |||||||||
![]() |
1982 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 27 | |||||||||
![]() |
1986 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 12 | |||||||||
![]() |
1990 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 16 | |||||||||
![]() |
1994 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 18 | |||||||||
![]() |
1998 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 12 | |||||||||
![]() ![]() |
2002 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 7 | |||||||||
![]() |
2006 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 21 | 19 | |||||||||
![]() |
2010 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 14 | |||||||||
![]() |
2014 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 9 | |||||||||
![]() |
2018 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 13 | |||||||||
![]() |
2022 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 10 | |||||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() |
To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||||||||||||
![]() | ||||||||||||||||
Total | 0/22 | 137 | 35 | 25 | 77 | 144 | 297 |
UEFA European Championship
[edit]UEFA European Championship record | Qualifying record | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Campaign | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
![]() |
Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||||
![]() | |||||||||||||||||
![]() |
Did not qualify | 1968 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 12 | |||||||||
![]() |
1972 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 16 | ||||||||||
![]() |
1976 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 13 | ||||||||||
![]() |
1980 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 15 | ||||||||||
![]() |
1984 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 14 | ||||||||||
![]() |
1988 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 10 | ||||||||||
![]() |
1992 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 8 | ||||||||||
![]() |
1996 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 18 | 18 | ||||||||||
![]() ![]() |
2000 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 13 | ||||||||||
![]() |
2004 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 10 | ||||||||||
![]() ![]() |
2008 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 13 | 7 | ||||||||||
![]() ![]() |
2012 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 16 | 16 | ||||||||||
![]() |
2016 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 10 | ||||||||||
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Group stage | 17th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | Squad | 2020 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 10 | |
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Did not qualify | 2024 (PO) | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 19 | 14 | |||||||||
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To be determined | To be determined | |||||||||||||||
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Total | Group stage | 1/17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | — | 125 | 39 | 24 | 62 | 144 | 186 |
UEFA Nations League
[edit]UEFA Nations League record | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Division | Group | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | P/R | RK | |
2018–19 | C | 2 | 1st | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3 | ![]() |
28th | |
2020–21 | B | 4 | 2nd | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 | ![]() |
21st | |
2022–23 | B | 3 | 2nd | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 6 | ![]() |
21st | |
2024–25 | B | 2 | To be determined | |||||||||
Total | 18 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 20 | 14 | 21st |
Olympic Games
[edit]Olympic Games record | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | |
As Grand Duchy of Finland | ||||||||||
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No football tournament was held | |||||||||
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Did not enter | |||||||||
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Fourth place | 4th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 16 | Squad | |
Since 1917, Declaration of Independence ![]() | ||||||||||
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Did not enter | |||||||||
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No football tournament was held | |||||||||
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Round of 16 | 14th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | Squad | |
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Did not enter | |||||||||
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Round of 16 | 9th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | Squad | |
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Did not enter | |||||||||
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Did not qualify | |||||||||
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Group stage | 9th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | Squad | |
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Did not qualify | |||||||||
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Since 1992 | Olympic football has been an under-23 tournament | |||||||||
Total | Fourth place | 4/17 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 29 | — |
Nordic Football Championship
[edit]Nordic Football Championship record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
1929–32 | Fourth place | 4th | 12 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 23 | 52 |
1933–36 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 18 | 36 | ||
1937–47 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 12 | 51 | ||
1948–51 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 28 | ||
1952–55 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 13 | 53 | ||
1956–59 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 44 | ||
1960–63 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 14 | 37 | ||
1964–67 | Third place | 3rd | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 17 |
1968–71 | Fourth place | 4th | 12 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 31 |
1972–77 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 26 | ||
1978–80 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 26 | ||
1981–85 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 11 | ||
2000–01 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 |
Total | 1 Title | 13/14 | 137 | 21 | 24 | 92 | 150 | 401 |
Baltic Cup
[edit]Baltic Cup record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
2012 | Runners-up | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | |
2014 | Third place | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
Total | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
Head-to-head record
[edit]This list is Finland national team complete records, both friendlies and competitive matches.[25]
- As of 7 June 2024.[26]
Opponent | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All Nations | 778 | 207 | 158 | 413 | 923 | 1,617 | −694 | 26.61 |
Against | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | GD | % Won |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 57.14 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0.00 |
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2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 50.00 |
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6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | +10 | 83.33 |
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11 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 24 | −13 | 9.09 |
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8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 5 | +10 | 87.50 |
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5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 80.00 |
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1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0.00 |
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5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 40.00 |
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11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 20 | −1 | 36.36 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 100.00 |
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 0.00 |
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7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 12 | −1 | 28.57 |
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3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | −6 | 0.00 |
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10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 19 | −16 | 20.00 |
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0.00 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 100.00 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0.00 |
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4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 25.00 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 0.00 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0.00 |
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0.00 |
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4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 50.00 |
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11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 22 | −8 | 27.27 |
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62 | 12 | 10 | 40 | 62 | 155 | −93 | 19.35 |
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7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 21 | −13 | 28.57 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 0.00 |
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2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 0.00 |
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13 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 44 | −37 | 0.00 |
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34 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 76 | 42 | +34 | 47.06 |
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5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | +14 | 100.00 |
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11 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 22 | −19 | 9.09 |
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2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 50.00 |
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23 | 1 | 6 | 16 | 19 | 82 | −63 | 4.35 |
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18 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 22 | 29 | −7 | 33.33 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.00 |
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17 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 15 | 48 | −33 | 17.65 |
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14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 15 | +6 | 50.00 |
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2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 50.00 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 0.00 |
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2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 100.00 |
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5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 11 | −9 | 0.00 |
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5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | +0 | 40.00 |
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13 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 32 | −25 | 7.69 |
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2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | −6 | 0.00 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.00 |
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7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 71.43 |
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2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 50.00 |
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7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 42.86 |
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17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 32 | 18 | +14 | 58.82 |
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5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 60.00 |
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5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 5 | +10 | 60.00 |
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5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 4 | +8 | 80.00 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0.00 |
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7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 57.14 |
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4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 0.00 |
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4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 50.00 |
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2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 100.00 |
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2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 50.00 |
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14 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 14 | 43 | −29 | 7.14 |
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1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 100.00 |
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7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 42.86 |
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11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 12 | +6 | 45.45 |
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67 | 9 | 17 | 41 | 82 | 182 | −100 | 13.43 |
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6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 50.00 |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 0.00 |
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29 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 25 | 67 | −42 | 10.34 |
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11 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 18 | −10 | 9.09 |
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4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 25.00 |
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13 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 29 | −23 | 0.00 |
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21 | 1 | 5 | 15 | 13 | 67 | −54 | 4.76 |
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6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 | +22 | 100.00 |
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4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 50.00 |
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9 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 20 | −13 | 0.00 |
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10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 32 | −22 | 20.00 |
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3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0.00 |
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4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 50.00 |
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3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | −5 | 0.00 |
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8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 16 | −11 | 12.50 |
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90 | 11 | 11 | 68 | 96 | 296 | −200 | 12.22 |
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5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 40.00 |
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5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 6 | +6 | 100.00 |
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5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 60.00 |
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3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 66.67 |
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15 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 22 | 24 | −2 | 40.00 |
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1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +0 | 0.00 |
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4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 0.00 |
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2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 0.00 |
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2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | −7 | 0.00 |
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14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 21 | −8 | 28.57 |
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1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0.00 |
Total | 778 | 207 | 158 | 413 | 923 | 1,617 | −694 | 26.61 |
Honours
[edit]- 1912 Summer Olympics
- Fourth place (1): 1912
Minor tournaments
[edit]See also
[edit]- Finland men's national under-21 football team
- Finland men's national under-19 football team
- Finland men's national under-17 football team
- Finland women's national football team
- Finland women's national under-20 football team
- Finland women's national under-17 football team
- Football in Finland
- Åland official football team
- Sápmi football team
References
[edit]- ^ [1] Archived 8 May 2023 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ a b c "World Football Elo Ratings: Finland". World Football Elo Ratings. Archived from the original on 3 April 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Finland qualifies for major soccer tournament for 1st time". ESPN.com. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "FIFA Rankings". Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ Andersen, Svein S.; Ronglan, Lars Tore (2012). Nordic Elite Sports: Same Ambitions – Different Tracks. Copenhagen: Copenhagen Business School Press. pp. 85–88. ISBN 978-876-30024-5-5. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ a b c Syrjäläinen, Antti (2008). Miksi siksi loikkariksi? Huippu-urheilijoiden loikkaukset TUL:sta SVUL:oon 1919–1939. Joensuu: University of Joensuu. pp. 45–47. ISBN 978-952-21913-7-3. Archived from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
- ^ "Nordic Championships 1964–67". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ Thomas Floyd (11 June 2021) [2021-06-09]. "Finland has had a cursed soccer past. Now, as a first-time Euro qualifier, it is ready to believe". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.[please check these dates]
- ^ Hodgson to return for Inter role Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine BBC Sport, 1 December 2007
- ^ "Suomen Palloliitto – Etusivu". Archived from the original on 25 May 2011.
- ^ Finnish News Bureau (31 March 2011). "Mixu Paatelainen: Maajoukkueen puolustuksessa tehty isoja virheitä". Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ Hans Backe appointed head coach of Finland men's national team
- ^ "Backen debyytti Huuhkajissa päättyi murskatappioon". yle.fi (in Finnish). Yle Uutiset. 10 January 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
- ^ "Markku Kanerva A-maajoukkueen päävalmentajaksi" (in Finnish). Suomen Palloliitto. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- ^ "Finland 3–0 Liechtenstein". BBC. 15 November 2019. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ "Teemu Pukki: From failures in Europe to Finland great – the fall and rise of the Norwich striker". BBC. 12 October 2019. Archived from the original on 11 June 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ "Denmark 0–1 Finland". BBC Sport. 12 June 2021. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- ^ "Markku Kanerva A-maajoukkueen päävalmentajaksi". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
- ^ "Sivua ei löydy". www.palloliitto.fi. 11 May 2022. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ "Valmennus ja joukkueenjohto". www.palloliitto.fi.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Huuhkajat nimetty syyskuun UEFA Nations League -otteluihin". www.palloliitto.fi. 28 August 2024.
- ^ Mamrud, Roberto. "Finland – International Player Records". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- ^ "FIFA Tournaments - Compare Teams". Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ^ "Finland – Historical results". Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Official website (in Finnish)
- Finland at FIFA
- Finland at UEFA
- RSSSF archive of results 1911–present
- RSSSF archive of most capped players and highest goalscorers
- RSSSF archive of coaches
- The Finnish National Team Supporters' Association
- Reports for all official matches
- Russian fan site about Finnish football and national team Archived 7 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)