Finland’s own goal became Denmark’s happiness

Every match that Finland has played in the European Championships so far has been called the biggest in the country’s football history. Against Belgium, the moment of truth had arrived – would the “Berguvarnas” first championship ever continue even after the playoffs?

The answer? Doubtful.

Despite one confidence-inspiring conclusion against world number one Belgium was the real underdog Finland fought for its survival at the Gazprom Stadium in St. Petersburg.

The battle for the stands was superior to the blue and whites, but on the pitch it was as expected sweaty.

Not only because of the, despite the late hour, barely 30-degree Russian heat – that the meeting required a “cooling break” at half past ten in the evening says it all – but also due to the Belgian dominance.

The game advantage was huge at “The Red Devils” whose national team captain Roberto Martinez drafted a well-known team. Two victories out of two possible were not reason enough to rest either Romelu Lukaku or Kevin De Bruyne at the same time as both Axel Witsel and Eden Hazard got to start for the first time in the championship.

However, the Finns kept the good together on the defensive and 45 minutes of play against a goal despite the Belgians had only washed out a really good chance before half time. This when 19-year-old talent Jeremy Doku saw his well-placed finish against the far post saved by the Finnish goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.

The most interesting thing in the first half took place instead in Copenhagen, where Mikkel Damsgaard had scored the lead goal for Denmark against Russia. The full hit meant that Finland suddenly took a step up as second in the group with Russia as the new jumbo.

But in the second half, things started to happen in St. Petersburg as well. Hradecky had just delivered a new super parade on a finish from Eden Hazard when Romelu Lukaku was released shortly afterwards by De Bruyne and put the ball in goal.

In the era of VAR football, however, one should not shout hello too soon, and quite rightly the replays found a very narrow offside on the Belgian striker who thus got to see his goal rejected.

Instead, the management goal came ten minutes later. Thomas Vermaelen reached the top of a corner and nodded the ball up into the crossbar. Unfortunately for Finland, Hradecky then accidentally hit the ball into his own goal when it flew at the height of the goal line.

Shortly afterwards, Lukaku had to put the ball in the net once more, after easily keeping midfielder Daniel O’Shaughnessy away – and this time it was approved.

2-0 for Belgium and thus good night for Finland? Not necessarily.

In the meantime, Denmark had gone from 4-1 against Russia and thus cemented the guests’ last place in the group.

There were no more goals in the dramatic group final, which means that Denmark rises after two initial losses in the tournament and goes on to the round of 16. Finland must now put their hope in that three points will be enough to become one of the top four threes, something that does not look bright at the moment.

At the same time, it is now clear that Sweden with its four points is definitely ready for the round of 16 in the European Football Championship and can not be one of the two worst threes in the tournament.

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