Finland women's national football team
Shirt badge/Association crest | |||
Nickname(s) | Helmarit (the Boreal Owls)[1] | ||
---|---|---|---|
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 (59) | ||
FIFA code | FIN | ||
| |||
FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 26 Steady (16 August 2024)[2] | ||
Highest | 14 (September 2005) | ||
Lowest | 32 (March 2019) | ||
First international | |||
File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland 0–0 Sweden File:Flag of Sweden.svg (Mariehamn, Finland; 25 August 1973) | |||
Biggest win | |||
File:Flag of Bulgaria.svg Bulgaria 0–8 Finland File:Flag of Finland.svg (Lovech, Bulgaria; 21 August 2014) File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland 8–0 Hungary File:Flag of Hungary.svg (Larnaca, Cyprus; 19 February 2023) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
File:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark 9–0 Finland File:Flag of Finland.svg (Vejen, Denmark; 26 July 1975) | |||
European Championship | |||
Appearances | 4 (first in 2005) | ||
Best result | Semi-finals (2005) |
The Finland women's national football team (Finnish: Suomen naisten jalkapallomaajoukkue, Swedish: Finlands damlandslag i fotboll), also known as nickname The Boreal Owls (Finnish: Helmarit),[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 before losing to Germany in the semifinals.[3] Finland hosted the 2009 European Championship.[4] 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 December 2023, the team is ranked 27th in the FIFA world ranking.[5]
History
The beginning
The Finland women's national football team played its first international match in 1973 against Sweden.[6] 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
2023
30 November 2023–24 UEFA Nations League | Finland File:Flag of Finland.svg | 6–0 | File:Flag of Romania.svg Romania | Turku |
17:45 | Report | Stadium: Veritas Stadion |
5 December 2023–24 UEFA Nations League | Slovakia File:Flag of Slovakia.svg | 2–2 | File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland | Trnava |
Report | Stadium: Anton Malatinský Stadium |
2024
21 February Friendly | Finland File:Flag of Finland.svg | 4–0 | File:Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines | San Pedro del Pinatar |
|
Report | Stadium: Pinatar Arena |
24 February 2024 Pinatar Cup SF | Slovenia File:Flag of Slovenia.svg | 0–1 | File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland | San Pedro del Pinatar |
Stadium: Pinatar Arena |
27 February 2024 Pinatar Cup Final | Scotland File:Flag of Scotland.svg | 1–1 (4–5 p) | File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland | San Pedro del Pinatar |
Stadium: Pinatar Arena |
5 April Euro 2025 qualifying | Norway File:Flag of Norway.svg | 4–0 | File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland | Oslo |
18:00 | Report | Stadium: Ullevaal Stadion Referee: Catarina Campos (Portugal) |
9 April Euro 2025 qualifying | Finland File:Flag of Finland.svg | 2–1 | File:Flag of Italy.svg Italy | Helsinki |
18:15 | Report | Stadium: Helsinki Football Stadium Referee: Marta Huerta de Aza (Spain) |
31 May Euro 2025 qualifying | Netherlands File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg | 1–0 | File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland | Rotterdam |
20:45 | Beerensteyn File:Soccerball shade.svg 65' | Report | Stadium: Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel Attendance: 9,089 Referee: Frida Klarlund (Denmark) |
4 June Euro 2025 qualifying | Finland File:Flag of Finland.svg | 1–1 | File:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands | Tampere |
18:00 | Report | Stadium: Tammelan Stadion Attendance: 7,677 Referee: Sandra Bastos (Portugal) |
12 July Euro 2025 qualifying | Finland File:Flag of Finland.svg | 1–1 | File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway | Turku |
Report | Stadium: Veritas Stadion |
16 July Euro 2025 qualifying | Italy File:Flag of Italy.svg | 4–0 | File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland | Bolzano |
19:00 | Report | Stadium: Stadio Druso |
25 October Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs | Montenegro File:Flag of Montenegro.svg | 0–1 | File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland | Podgorica |
17:30 | Report | Stadium: Podgorica City Stadium |
29 October Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs | Finland File:Flag of Finland.svg | 5–0 (6–0 agg.) | File:Flag of Montenegro.svg Montenegro | Tampere |
18:30 CEST (UTC+02:00) | Report | Stadium: Tammelan Stadion Referee: Eleni Antoniou (Greece) |
29 November Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs | Scotland File:Flag of Scotland.svg | 0-0 | File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland | Edinburgh |
20:35 WET (UTC+00:00) | Report | Stadium: Easter Road |
3 December Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs | Finland File:Flag of Finland.svg | - | File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland | Helsinki |
(UTC+03:00) | Report | Stadium: Helsinki Olympic Stadium |
Coaching staff
Current coaching staff
As of October 2024[7]
- Head coach: Marko Saloranta
- Assistant coach: Jonne Kunnas
- Assistant coach: Liisa-Maija Rautio
- Goalkeeping coach: Tommi Laitila
- Fitness coach: Kristoffer Weckström
- Psychological coach: Tatja Holm
- Doctor: Pippa Laukka
- Physiotherapist: Markus Rosenblad
- Physiotherapist: Sannakaisa Vastamäki
- Kit manager: Piia Karonen
- Kit manager: Alban Saliko
- Video Analyst: Jouko Kylmäoja
- Team manager: Outi Saarinen
- Team manager: Sanna Pirhonen
- Press officer: Eveliina Parikka
- Press officer: Jyri Sulander
- Media officer: Taru Nyholm
Manager history
- As of 21 February 2024
Tenure | Coach | Record | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | W | D | L | Win % | |||||
1973–77 | Finland Juhani Nirkkonen | 12 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 8.33 | |||
1978 | Finland Simo Syrjävaara | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 33.33 | |||
1979–89 | Finland Kaj Österberg | 44 | 13 | 12 | 19 | 29.55 | |||
1989–92 | Finland Jyrki Nieminen | 24 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 12.50 | |||
1993–96 | Finland Nils Suomalainen | 24 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 16.67 | |||
1996–00 | Finland Reima Kokko | 46 | 11 | 3 | 32 | 23.91 | |||
2001–09 | Finland Michael Käld | 107 | 35 | 22 | 50 | 32.71 | |||
2010–16 | Sweden Andrée Jeglertz | 76 | 27 | 13 | 36 | 35.53 | |||
2017 | Finland Marko Saloranta | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 33.33 | |||
2017–2022 | Sweden Anna Signeul | 47 | 19 | 11 | 17 | 40.43 | |||
2022– | Finland Marko Saloranta | 17 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 70.59 |
Players
Current squad
- The following players were called up for the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying matches against Montenegro on 24 and 29 October 2024 respectively.[8]
Stats after match with Scotland Scotland on 18 July 2023.
Recent call ups
The following players have been called up to the squad in the past 12 months.
Records
*Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 9 July 2022
Most capped players
Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Years |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Anna Westerlund | 145 | 4 | 2008– |
2 | Linda Sällström | 132 | 57 | 2007– |
3 | Laura Österberg Kalmari | 130 | 41 | 1996–2011 |
4 | Tuija Hyyrynen | 121 | 3 | 2007– |
5 | Sanna Valkonen | 120 | 7 | 1995–2009 |
6 | Anne Mäkinen | 118 | 16 | 1991–2009 |
Jessica Julin | 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:[9]
Top goalscorers
Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Years | Avg |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Linda Sällström | 57 | 132 | 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 |
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:[9]
Competitive record
FIFA Women's World Cup
FIFA Women's World Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD | |
China 1991 | Did not qualify | UEFA Euro 1991 | ||||||||||||||
Sweden 1995 | UEFA Euro 1995 | |||||||||||||||
United States 1999 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 9 | −1 | |||||||||
United States 2003 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 24 | −20 | |||||||||
China 2007 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 5 | +11 | |||||||||
Germany 2011 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 6 | +19 | |||||||||
Canada 2015 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 27 | 9 | +18 | |||||||||
France 2019 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 13 | −4 | |||||||||
AustraliaNew Zealand 2023 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 12 | −10 | |||||||||
Brazil 2027 | To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||
Total | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 56 | 28 | 5 | 23 | 103 | 78 | +13 |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
Olympic Games
Summer Olympics record | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA |
United States 1996 | Did not qualify | ||||||
Australia 2000 | |||||||
Greece 2004 | |||||||
China 2008 | |||||||
United Kingdom 2012 | |||||||
Brazil 2016 | |||||||
Japan 2020 | |||||||
France 2024 | Unable to qualify | ||||||
United States 2028 | To be determined | ||||||
Australia 2032 | |||||||
Total | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
UEFA Women's Championship
UEFA Women's Championship record | Qualifying record | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD | |
1984 | Did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 17 | −12 | ||||||||
Norway 1987 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | −4 | |||||||||
West Germany 1989 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 11 | −2 | |||||||||
Denmark 1991 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −3 | |||||||||
Italy 1993 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 12 | −9 | |||||||||
Germany 1995 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 7 | +1 | |||||||||
Norway Sweden 1997 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 24 | −22 | |||||||||
Germany 2001 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 21 | −13 | |||||||||
England 2005 | Semi-finals | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 7 | +9 | |
Finland 2009 | Quarter-finals | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | Qualified as host | |||||||
Sweden 2013 | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 4 | +18 | |
Netherlands 2017 | Did not qualify | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 12 | +5 | ||||||||
England 2022 | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | −7 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 2 | +22 | |
Switzerland 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 | 2 | 1st | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 2 | Rise | 18th | |
2025–26 | A | To be determined | ||||||||||
Total | 18th |
Pinatar Cup
Pinatar Cup record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
2024 | Champions | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 |
Total | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 |
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 |
Algarve Cup
Algarve Cup record | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | |||||||||
1994 | 6th place | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | −9 | |||||||||
1995 | 6th place | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −3 | |||||||||
1996 | 8th place | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 15 | −14 | |||||||||
1997 | 6th place | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | −5 | |||||||||
1998 | 8th place | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 | −4 | |||||||||
1999 | 8th place | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | −6 | |||||||||
2000 | 7th place | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 | −3 | |||||||||
2001 | 7th place | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 15 | −11 | |||||||||
2002 | 7th place | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 8 | −5 | |||||||||
2003 | 6th place | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | −6 | |||||||||
2004 | 9th place | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 10 | −4 | |||||||||
2005 | 10th place | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 10 | −7 | |||||||||
2006 | 7th place | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 12 | −7 | |||||||||
2007 | 6th place | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | −4 | |||||||||
2008 | 8th place | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 10 | −9 | |||||||||
2009 | 7th place | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | −4 | |||||||||
2010 | 8th place | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 11 | −9 | |||||||||
2011 | 10th place | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 13 | −11 | |||||||||
Total |
Nordic Football Championship
Women's Nordic Football Championship record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
Finland 1974 | Third place | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | −6 |
Denmark 1975 | Third place | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | −13 |
Sweden 1976 | Third place | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | −4 |
Finland 1977 | Third place | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | −5 |
Denmark 1978 | Third place | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | −3 |
Norway 1979 | Third place | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | −3 |
Sweden 1980 | Fourth place | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | −7 |
Finland 1981 | Runners-up | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 |
Denmark 1982 | Fourth place | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | −5 |
Total | 9/9 | 23 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 9 | 56 | −47 |
See also
- Sports in Finland
- Football in Finland
- Football Association of Finland (SPL)
- Finland women's national under-20 football team
- Finland women's national under-17 football team
- Finland national football team
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Helmarit nimetty MM-karsinta-avaukseen Serbiaa vastaan" (in suomi). 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.
- ↑ UEFA.com. "Season 2005 Matches | UEFA Women's EURO". UEFA.com. Retrieved 29 March 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.
- ↑ "Naisten jalkapallomaajoukkueen taival on puolivuosisatainen – jo alussa mentiin sisulla ja yhteispelillä". Hämeen Sanomat. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
- ↑ "Helmarit - Joukkue" (in Finnish). Finnish Football Federation. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ↑ "Helmarit nimetty EM-jatkokarsintojen ensimmäiselle kierrokselle" (in suomi). Football Federation. 18 October 2024.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "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.