MX23RW : Wednesday, June 23 13:04:17| >> :600:103770:103770:
Jun 21, 2021 at 8pm UK at Saint-Petersburg Stadium
FinlandFinland
0-2
BelgiumBelgium
FT(HT: 0-0)
Hradecky (74' og.), Lukaku (81')

How Finland could line up against Belgium

How Finland could line up against Belgium
© Reuters
Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Finland could line up for Monday's Group B clash with Belgium.

Having given a good account of themselves on their debut in the European Championship so far, rank outsiders Finland meet a formidable Belgium side in their second successive match in St Petersburg on Monday.

Level with Group B rivals Russia on three points going into the final round, Markku Kanerva's men will go through with a win, or possibly even a draw, so getting his selection right will be paramount for the former schoolteacher.

Needing to find a way of taking a point off a much-rotated Belgium side, Finland are therefore set to rely on their defensive solidity which has seen them concede just once thus far.

Kanerva has seen full-backs Nikolai Alho (ankle) and Jukka Raitala (calf) overcome injury problems in the past week, with the latter expected to keep his place on the right of what will effectively be a back five when the Eagle-owls are out of possession.

Once again, Rangers midfield dynamo Glen Kamara is joined by veteran captain Tim Sparv in a resolute Finnish engine room, which will be significantly challenged by the returning talents of Axel Witsel and Kevin De Bruyne.

Up front, meanwhile, there has been speculation that Joel Pohjanpalo - whose match-winning header against Denmark made him the first Finnish footballer to score at a major tournament - may be sacrificed from the lineup, with MLS-based Robin Lod instead given the task of supporting star striker Teemu Pukki from a deeper role.

Pukki, who scored 10 of his nation's 16 goals in qualifying, has yet to get off the mark, as it was Pohjanpalo's 10th international goal (and third in as many games) that broke the deadlock on a dramatic night in Copenhagen last week. In fact, the Union Berlin forward is the only Finn to register an international goal since March, so it would be a brave move should Kanerva consider it necessary for the greater cause.

Finland possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; O'Shaughnessy, Arajuuri, Toivio; Uronen, Kamara, Sparv, Kauko, Raitala; Pohjanpalo, Pukki

> Click here to see how Belgium could line up for Monday's Group B game

ID:452022:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect3832:

How you voted: Finlvs vs Belgium

Finland
11.9%
Draw
7.9%
Belgium
80.2%
722
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Euro 2020 banner Instagram AMP
England's Kalvin Phillips in action with Scotland's Stuart Armstrong at Euro 2020 on June 18, 2021
Read Next:
Euro 2020 day eight: England held by Scotland, Sweden overcome Slovakia
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.

rhs 2.0
Euro 2020 fixtures
Todays Game Header Right
Tables

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!