Finland women's national football team

Finland
Nickname(s)	Helmarit (the Boreal Owls)
Association	Football Association; of Finland; (Suomen Palloliitto)
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Marko Saloranta
Captain	Tinja-Riikka Korpela
Most caps	Anna Westerlund (145)
Top scorer	Linda Sällström (51)
FIFA code	FIN
First colours	Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	26 (16 August 2024)
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 (Template:Lang-fi),^[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.^[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 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

14 July Friendly

Iceland

1–2

Finland

18 July Friendly

Finland

1–2

Scotland

23 September 2023–24 UEFA Nations League	Finland	4–0	Slovakia	Turku
17:30 (18:30 EEST)	Sällström 5' Rantala 23' Kosola 45', 75'	Report		Stadium: Veritas Stadion, Attendance: 5,062 Referee: Michèle Schmölzer (Switzerland)

26 September 2023–24 UEFA Nations League	Romania	0–1	Finland	Bucharest
18:00		Report		Stadium: Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, Referee: Angelika Soeder (Germany)

27 October 2023–24 UEFA Nations League	Finland	v	Croatia	Helsinki
17:45		Report		Stadium: Bolt Arena,

31 October 2023–24 UEFA Nations League	Croatia	v	Finland	Šibenik
18:00		Report		Stadium: Stadion Šubićevac,

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

As of August 2022

Head coach: Marko Saloranta
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	10	6	1	3	060.00

Players

Current squad

Finland

The squad was announced on 13 September 2023 for UEFA Nations League matches against Slovakia and Romania on 22 September 2023 and 26 September 2023, respectively^[5]

Stats after match with Scotland on 18 July 2023. Head coach: Marko Saloranta

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
23	1GK	Tinja-Riikka Korpela (captain)	(1986-05-05) 5 May 1986 (age 38)	115	0	AS Roma
12	1GK	Anna Tamminen	(1994-10-30) 30 October 1994 (age 30)	6	0	Hammarby
	1GK	Milla-Maj Majasaari	(1999-10-15) 15 October 1999 (age 25)	1	0	IK Uppsala

2	2DF	Elli Pikkujämsä	(1999-10-24) 24 October 1999 (age 25)	23	1	Racing Louisville
3	2DF	Eva Nyström	(1999-11-29) 29 November 1999 (age 24)	8	0	Hammarby
5	2DF	Emma Koivisto	(1994-09-25) 25 September 1994 (age 30)	78	3	Liverpool
15	2DF	Natalia Kuikka	(1995-12-01) 1 December 1995 (age 28)	71	3	Portland Thorns
	2DF	Tiia Peltonen	(1995-06-08) 8 June 1995 (age 29)	7	0	Fortuna Hjørring
	2DF	Joanna Tynnilä	(2001-09-01) 1 September 2001 (age 23)	3	0	Brann
	3MF	Nea Lehtola	(1998-10-24) 24 October 1998 (age 26)	2	0	Brøndby IF
	3MF	Anni Hartikainen	(2003-08-19) 19 August 2003 (age 21)	0	0	KuPS

4	3MF	Ria Öling	(1994-09-15) 15 September 1994 (age 30)	62	9	Rosengård
8	3MF	Olga Ahtinen	(1997-08-15) 15 August 1997 (age 27)	55	3	Tottenham Hotspur
10	3MF	Emmi Alanen	(1991-04-30) 30 April 1991 (age 33)	101	21	Kristianstads DFF
11	2DF	Nora Heroum	(1994-07-20) 20 July 1994 (age 30)	84	1	Parma
20	3MF	Eveliina Summanen	(1998-05-29) 29 May 1998 (age 26)	53	11	Tottenham Hotspur
	3MF	Katariina Kosola	(2001-02-24) 24 February 2001 (age 23)	8	1	Häcken
	3MF	Emma Peuhkurinen	(1999-11-30) 30 November 1999 (age 24)	5	0	KIF Örebro DFF
	3MF	Oona Siren	(2001-02-23) 23 February 2001 (age 23)	3	0	KuPS
	3MF	Emmi Siren	(2001-02-23) 23 February 2001 (age 23)	3	0	KuPS

14	4FW	Heidi Kollanen	(1997-06-06) 6 June 1997 (age 27)	19	2	KIF Örebro DFF
17	4FW	Sanni Franssi	(1995-03-19) 19 March 1995 (age 29)	60	4	Real Sociedad
18	4FW	Linda Sällström	(1988-07-13) 13 July 1988 (age 36)	120	51	Vittsjö GIK
22	4FW	Jutta Rantala	(1999-11-11) 11 November 1999 (age 25)	17	5	Leicester City
	4FW	Oona Sevenius	(2004-04-28) 28 April 2004 (age 20)	2	0	Como

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
GK	Anna Koivunen	(2001-11-06) 6 November 2001 (age 23)	0	0	IF Brommapojkarna
GK	Katriina Talaslahti	(2000-09-21) 21 September 2000 (age 24)	2	0	FC Fleury 91

DF	Tuija Hyyrynen	(1988-03-10) 10 March 1988 (age 36)	121	3	Unattached
DF	Anna Auvinen	(1987-03-02) 2 March 1987 (age 37)	20	0	Unattached
DF	Anna Westerlund	(1989-04-09) 9 April 1989 (age 35)	145	4	Åland United

MF	Juliette Kemppi	(1994-05-14) 14 May 1994 (age 30)	64	5	Växjö DFF
MF	Jenny Danielsson	(1994-08-30) 30 August 1994 (age 30)	39	7	KIF Örebro DFF
MF	Julia Tunturi	(1996-04-25) 25 April 1996 (age 28)	25	0	Brøndby IF
MF	Nanne Ruuskanen	(2001-11-19) 19 November 2001 (age 23)	2	0	Brann
MF	Essi Sainio	(1986-09-09) 9 September 1986 (age 38)	58	3	Unattached
MF	Vilma Koivisto	(2002-11-21) 21 November 2002 (age 22)	3	1	IFK Norrköping
MF	Aada Nurmi	(2003-03-12) 12 March 2003 (age 21)	0	0	HPS

FW	Adelina Engman	(1994-10-11) 11 October 1994 (age 30)	85	12	Hammarby
FW	Kaisa Collin	(1997-04-16) 16 April 1997 (age 27)	21	5	Eskilstuna United
FW	Amanda Rantanen	(1998-05-11) 11 May 1998 (age 26)	13	1	Linköpings FC

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

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

Source:^[6]

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

Year	Result	GP	W	D*	L	GF	GA	GD	GP	W	D*	L	GF	GA	GD
FIFA Women's World Cup record									Qualification record
1991	Did not qualify								UEFA Euro 1991
1995									UEFA Euro 1995
1999									8	3	1	4	8	9	−1
2003									6	1	0	5	4	24	−20
2007									8	5	1	2	16	5	+11
2011									8	6	1	1	25	6	+19
2015									10	7	0	3	27	9	+18
2019									8	3	1	4	9	13	−4
2023									8	3	1	4	14	12	−10
2027	To be determined								To be determined
Total	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	56	28	5	23	103	78	+13

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA Women's Championship

Year	Result	GP	W	D*	L	GF	GA	GD	GP	W	D*	L	GF	GA	GD
UEFA Women's Championship record									Qualifying record
1984	Did not qualify								6	2	0	4	5	17	−12
1987									6	1	2	3	2	6	−4
1989									6	1	2	3	9	11	−2
1991									6	1	2	3	3	6	−3
1993									4	0	2	2	3	12	−9
1995									6	2	3	1	8	7	+1
1997									8	1	1	6	2	24	−22
2001									8	2	0	6	8	21	−13
2005	Semi-finals	4	1	1	2	5	8	−3	10	4	4	2	16	7	+9
2009	Quarter-finals	4	2	0	2	5	5	0	Qualified as host
2013	Group stage	3	0	2	1	1	6	−5	8	6	1	1	22	4	+18
2017	Did not qualify								8	4	1	3	17	12	+5
2022	Group stage	3	0	0	3	1	8	−7	8	7	1	0	24	2	+22
2025
Total	4/13	14	3	3	8	12	27	−15	84	31	19	34	119	129	−10

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA Women's Nations League

UEFA Women's Nations League record
Season	Division	Group	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	P/R	RK
2023–24	B	To be determined
Total										21st

Cyprus Women's Cup

Cyprus Women's Cup record
Year	Result	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
2012	7th place	4	1	1	2	6	7	−1
2013	7th place	4	1	1	2	5	6	−1
2014	12th place	4	0	1	3	1	8	−7
2015	9th place	4	1	1	2	3	7	−4
2016	8th place	4	0	1	3	3	8	−5
2018	11th place	4	1	1	2	4	7	−3
2019	9th place	4	1	1	2	3	6	−3
2020	Runners-up	3	1	1	1	7	6	+1
2023	Champions	3	3	0	0	16	1	+15
Total		34	9	8	17	48	56	−8

Nordic Football Championship

Women's Nordic Football Championship record
Year	Result	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
1974	Third place	2	0	0	2	0	6	−6
1975	Third place	2	0	0	2	0	13	−13
1976	Third place	2	0	0	2	1	5	−4
1977	Third place	2	0	0	2	0	5	−5
1978	Third place	3	1	1	1	1	4	−3
1979	Third place	3	1	1	1	2	5	−3
1980	Fourth place	3	0	2	1	1	8	−7
1981	Runners-up	3	1	1	1	3	4	−1
1982	Fourth place	3	0	1	2	1	6	−5
Total	9/9	23	3	6	14	9	56	−47

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Helmarit nimetty MM-karsinta-avaukseen Serbiaa vastaan" (in Finnish). Football Association of Finland. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
^ "Women's Euro 2009 in Finland". Embassy of Finland. 2009. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
^ "Finland". FIFA. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
^ "Helmarit nimetty historiansa ensimmäisiin UEFA Nations League -otteluihin". Finnish Football Association (in Finnish). 13 September 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Finland – Women International Player Records". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).Published 8 October 2019, retrieved and Updated data 15 June 2021. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.

External links

[helmari-1] "Helmarit nimetty MM-karsinta-avaukseen Serbiaa vastaan" (in Finnish). Football Association of Finland. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.

[FIFA_Women's_World_Rankings-2] "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.

[3] "Women's Euro 2009 in Finland". Embassy of Finland. 2009. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.

[4] "Finland". FIFA. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2016.

[5] "Helmarit nimetty historiansa ensimmäisiin UEFA Nations League -otteluihin". Finnish Football Association (in Finnish). 13 September 2023.

[Finland-WomenInternationalPlayerRecords-6] "Finland – Women International Player Records". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).Published 8 October 2019, retrieved and Updated data 15 June 2021. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

History

The beginning

Team image

Nicknames

Results and fixtures

2022

2023

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

Manager history

Players

Current squad

Finland

Recent call ups

Records

Most capped players

Top goalscorers

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

UEFA Women's Championship

UEFA Women's Nations League

Cyprus Women's Cup

Nordic Football Championship

See also

References

External links