The Finland lineup that should start against Russia at Euro 2020

Under difficult circumstances, Finland managed to take all three points from their Euro 2020 opener against Denmark in Copenhagen.

Following the serious incident that took place involving Christian Eriksen the game resumed under subdued circumstances and as a result, Finland’s historic first victory and appearance in a major finals went under the radar.

They now travel to St Petersburg to face a Russia side in desperate need of three points following their defeat to Belgium, but do so knowing they already have three points on the board.

In an ideal world, Markku Kanerva would like to be able to name the same starting eleven but he may be forced into a number of changes depending on the fitness of some of his stars.

Here’s how Finland should lineup against Russia on Wednesday.

Lukas Hradecky, Pierre-Emile HojbjergLukas Hradecky, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

Lukas Hradecky denied Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from the spot / Friedemann Vogel – Pool/Getty Images

Lukas Hradecky (GK) – A fine shot-stopper, Hradecky was kept busy in the early stages against Denmark but went on to keep a clean sheet after saving a penalty.

Joona Toivio (CB) – A strong centre-back who proved his worth during Finland’s opener, marshalled the defence brilliantly.

Paulus Arajuuri (CB) – Conceded the penalty but other than that, turned in a strong display for his the Huuhkajat.

Daniel O’Shaughnessy (CB) – Of Irish descent, hence the name, O’Shaughnessy is very much a key part of the Finnish backline and should play.

Tim Sparv, Pierre-Emile HojbjergTim Sparv, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

Tim Sparv battled throughout in order to help contain Denmark’s midfield / Wolfgang Rattay – Pool/Getty Images

Leo Vaisanen (RM) – Likely to start in the absence of Jukka Raitala after the wing-back picked up an injury during the win over Denmark.

Robin Lod (CM) – Heavily involved versus the Danes, he was one of the better performers in Finnish blue and has to be one of the first names on the team sheet.

Tim Sparv (CM) – The captain, a leader of men, and he proved vital in Finland’s efforts to break down Denmark’s threatening passages of play. The heartbeat of the team.

Glen Kamara (CM) – Physically imposing and tidy in possession. Kamara came into this tournament having recently been crowned a champion with Rangers and his confidence is showing.

Jere Uronen (LM) – The provider for Finland’s historic second-half goal on Saturday which ultimately proved to be the winner.

Joel PohjanpaloJoel Pohjanpalo

Pohjanpalo scored the winner vs Denmark / Friedemann Vogel – Pool/Getty Images

Joel Pohjanpalo (ST) – Scored Finland’s first-ever goal at a major finals and is one of a few genuine goal threats in their armoury.

Teemu Pukki (ST) – He netted 26 times for Norwich City in the Championship last season and is Finland’s star player. He works incredibly hard for the team and has so much more to his game than simply goals.

Robert Lewandowski needs to step it up to save Poland’s Euro 2020 hopes

Robert Lewandowski didn’t get his first real sight of goal in Poland’s opening Euro 2020 game against Slovakia until the closing stages of the 2-1 defeat.

The Bayern Munich striker, who should have won the 2020 Ballon d’Or that never was and who scored 48 goals in 40 appearances at club level during the 2020/21 season, saw the ball flash across the face of goal in front of him, only to fail to make a clean connection with his head.

It means that Lewandowski’s tally of goals at major international tournaments remains just two. Yet this is now the fourth such competition of his career, having scored once each at Euro 2012 and Euro 2016 and drawn a blank at the World Cup in 2018.

For a player considered one of the best strikers of his generation, that return is extremely poor.

Robert Lewandowski, Milan SkriniarRobert Lewandowski, Milan Skriniar

Lewandowski has only scored two goals at international tournaments / Kirill Kudryavtsev – Pool/Getty Images

Slovakia were good value for their victory. They outplayed Poland in the first half and Lewandowski’s threat was non-existent. An early Polish goal from Karol Linetty after the interval changed the game, but that ascendancy only lasted until Grzegorz Krychowiak was sent off for two yellow cards.

Yet even when Poland did briefly have the upper hand for those 15 minutes, Lewandowski was still alarmingly quiet for someone of his quality.

He has scored 66 goals in his Poland career to date, including 22 in his last two qualifying campaigns alone, and is already the country’s all-time leading goalscorer by some distance. What’s more, goals have come against sides at least as reputable as Slovakia.

It makes the almost total lack of goals when it comes to the actual tournaments quite bizarre.

Robert LewandowskiRobert Lewandowski

Lewandowski is usually prolific in qualifying games / Lars Baron/Getty Images

What is clear is that he doesn’t have the same quality of support cast with Poland as he does at Bayern. But there has to be more from a world class striker at an international tournament.

It does work both ways, though, and his supporting cast, who were largely poor against Slovakia, can also shoulder some blame and need to step it up as well if Poland are to avoid a disappointing group stage exit for a second consecutive tournament.

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Finland vs Russia: TV channel, live stream, team news & prediction

Finland played their first-ever game in a major finals at the weekend, managing a historic 1-0 win over Denmark thanks to Joel Pohjanpalo’s header.

The occasion became insignificant in the latter stages of the first half when Christian Eriksen collapsed. The Dane, who is now in a stable condition, received life-saving treatment on the field in Copenhagen and has since been recovering in hospital.

The severity of the incident involving Eriksen has seen Finland’s landmark achievement slip under the radar and they go into the fixture versus Russia later this week with a three point lead over Stanislav Cherchesov’s side.

To say the Russians were poor against Belgium in St Petersburg is putting it kindly and they must improve substantially if they’re to stand any chance of progressing through to the knockout stage.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Finland vs Russia.

Poland v Slovakia - UEFA Euro 2020: Group EPoland v Slovakia - UEFA Euro 2020: Group E

Finland vs Russia will take place in Saint Petersburg / Anton Vaganov – Pool/Getty Images

When is kick-off? Wednesday 16 June, 14:00 (BST)
Where is the match being played? St Petersburg Stadium
What TV channel is it on? BBC One (UK)
Who is the referee? Danny Makkiele
Who’s on VAR duty? Pol van Boekel

Joel PohjanpaloJoel Pohjanpalo

Finland’s hero at the weekend is fit and available to face Russia / Friedemann Vogel – Pool/Getty Images

Nikolai Alho is a doubt for Finland with a sprained ankle. Jukka Raitala had to come off late vs Denmark and so Leo Vaisanen may be forced to deputise at right-back for this one.

Markku Kanerva is expected to try, where possible and stick to the same side that earned all three points in Saturday’s opener.

Belgium v Russia - UEFA Euro 2020: Group BBelgium v Russia - UEFA Euro 2020: Group B

Yuri Zhirkov went off injured during Saturday’s defeat to Belgium / MB Media/Getty Images

Russia are likely to be without veteran defender Yuri Zhirkov who went off with a calf injury during the defeat to Belgium. Daler Kuzyaev is also a doubt after a clash of heads with Timothy Castagne.

Cherchesov will still be without Andrey Mostovoy after he tested positive for coronavirus but Aleksey Miranchuk could return to the Russian forward line.

Finland: Hradecky; Vaisanen, Arajuuri, O’Shaughnessy, Toivio, Uronen; Kamara, Sparv, Lod; Pohjanpalo, Pukki

Russia: Shunin; Dzhikiya, Semenov, Barinov; Fernandes, Zobnin, Ozdoev, Karavaev; Miranchuk, Golovin; Dzyuba

The Russians are in desperate need of all three points and after performing so poorly in their opener, they can’t possibly play that badly again. Finland took advantage of a distracted Denmark side in Copenhagen following events at the end of the first half but nevertheless, it can’t have been easy to continue for them either.

With the game being staged in St Petersburg, the home advantage will certainly be with Russia. Taking that into account along with their greater need for the three points it’s difficult to see past a win for the hosts.

Prediction: Finland 0-1 Russia

Poland 1-2 Slovakia: Player ratings as Milan Skriniar stunner beats 10-man Poles

Slovakia kicked off Euro 2020 Group E with a surprise win over a Poland side that finished the game with only 10 players in St Petersburg.

Slovakia bossed the first half and were fully deserving of a half-time lead after Robert Mak’s shot ricocheted off the post, onto the back of Wojciech Szczesny into the net. But Poland struck back almost immediately after the interval and were in the ascendancy for around 15 minutes until Grzegorz Krychowiak was sent off for two yellow cards.

The red card changed the course of the game, shifting the power back to Slovakia. Milan Skriniar then drilled in the winner at a corner.

Here’s a look at how both sets of players fared.

Szczesny scored an own goalSzczesny scored an own goal

Szczesny scored an own goal / EVGENIA NOVOZHENINA/Getty Images

Wojciech Szczesny (GK) 5/10: Beaten too easily at the near post, although he was then a little unlucky that the ball ricocheted off his back into the net. Not a lot to do despite conceding twice.

Bartosz Berezynski (CB) 5/10: Allowed Mak to escape when he should have been pinned in a wide area.

Kamil Glik (CB) 6/10: Struggled without having a proper ‘number nine’ to face up against.

Jan Bednarek (CB) 6/10: Narrowly missed a late chance to equalise.

Krychowiak was sent offKrychowiak was sent off

Krychowiak was sent off / Kirill Kudryavtsev – Pool/Getty Images

Kamil Jozwiak (RM) 5/10: Disappointing in the first half, although he did improve.

Karol Linetty (CM) 6/10: Awoke from a disappointing first half to score the equaliser and was much livelier for a 15-minute period thereafter.

Grzegorz Krychowiak (DM) 4/10: Struggled to get a foothold in the first half as Slovakia overran the midfield. Sent off at the hour mark for two yellow cards.

Mateusz Klich (CM) 6/10: Involved in Poland’s equaliser and was among the better of his team’s players.

Maciej Rybus (LM) 6/10: Quiet in the first half but provided the assist for the equaliser and was briefly a threat until Poland were reduced to 10 men.

Robert LewandowskiRobert Lewandowski

Lewandowski failed to impress / Lars Baron/Getty Images

Piotr Zielinski (ST) 5/10: Saw a reasonable amount of the ball but didn’t do enough with it.

Robert Lewandowski (ST) 5/10: Starved of meaningful service means his poor goal record at international tournaments continues.

Przemyslaw Frankowski 6/10

Tymoteusz Puchacz 6/10

Jakub Moder N/A

Karol Swiderski N/A

Skriniar scored the winnerSkriniar scored the winner

Skriniar scored the winner / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/Getty Images

Martin Dubravka (GK) 6/10: Didn’t have a great amount to do for most of the game.

Peter Pekarik (RB) 7/10: Got forward well, particularly in the first half.

Lubomir Satka (CB) 7/10: Helped cut off the supply line to Lewandowski.

Milan Skriniar (CB) 7/10: Scored a rare international goal with a pinpoint drilled finish.

Tomas Hubocan (LB) 7/10: Completed an impressive back four for Slovakia.

Marek HamsikMarek Hamsik

Hamsik dictated play / Lars Baron/Getty Images

Juaraj Kucka (CM) 7/10: Combative performance from the veteran. Also had decent chances.

Jakub Hromada (CM) 6/10: Helped Slovakia gain the upper hand in midfield.

Marek Hamsik (AM) 7/10: Heavily involved in his team’s attacking play.

Mak was impressiveMak was impressive

Mak was impressive / ANTON VAGANOV/Getty Images

Lukas Haraslin (RW) 6/10: Gave his team good attacking options.

Ondrej Duda (ST) 8/10: His movement in a false nine-type role caused Poland’s back three problems.

Robert Mak (LW) 7/10: Wriggled free of two defenders to cause the opening goal and was always a threat wide on the left.

Patrik Hrosovsky 6/10

Martin Koscelnik 6/10

Michal Duris N/A

Tomas Suslov N/A

Jan Gregus N/A

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D.C. United’s Paul Arriola sees All-Star game as chance for MLS to impress

Paul Arriola has said that the upcoming MLS All-Star game is a chance for the league’s talent to impress foreign talent.

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber and LigaMX president Mikel Arriola recently announced that the 2021 MLS All-Star game will be played between the two leagues at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.

Following the press conference, chaos and excitement erupted over the match and possible future collaborations between the leagues. The All-Star game’s new cross-border format would be MLS and LigaMX’s latest clash as the two already go head-to-head in the Campeones Cup and Leagues Cup. 

D.C. United’s Arriola, who has spent time in MLS and LigaMX, sees it as scouting opportunity for players in Mexico who are intrigued about playing north of the border.

“To be honest with you I think it’s another opportunity for those players as well to take a look at MLS,” Arriola said in an interview on Extratime. “I think players would be lying if they said they weren’t intrigued by the thought of playing in MLS. I think for everybody the question is the level, which I think can clearly be left behind and be a thought that shouldn’t exist anymore.

“But that’s definitely I think how players are feeling. They want to know what it’s like and obviously I’m sure most of the players have played with players that know about MLS or a lot of them are foreign, so I think it’s an opportunity for them as well to be able to come and showcase themselves and really experience it and see if it’s worth it for them.”

The growth and skill level of Major League Soccer has been exponential as Arriola detailed in the interview after witnessing it himself over the years at D.C. United.

“I think there’s a lot of quality in Liga MX, but I also think there’s a lot of those guys that would love the opportunity to come to the US and play and get a chance to play an on MLS team, because I think the MLS is definitely trending in the right direction in all aspects,” he said.