Finland women's national football team

This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Finland national football team.

The Finland women's national football team, also known as nickname The Boreal Owls (Finnish: Helmarit), 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.

Finland

Nickname(s)	Helmarit (the Boreal Owls)
Association	Football Association of Finland (Suomen Palloliitto)
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Anna Signeul
Captain	Tinja-Riikka Korpela
Most caps	Anna Westerlund (135)
Top scorer	Linda Sällström (49)
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 Islands 25 August 1973)
Biggest win
Finland 7–0 Armenia (Helsinki, Finland 21 November 2009)
Biggest defeat
Denmark 9–0 Finland (Vejen, Denmark 26 July 1975)
European Championship
Appearances	3 (first in 2005)
Best result	Semi-finals (2005)

The Finnish team now has a few players that are considered to be among the best in the female football, such as Laura Österberg Kalmari, Sanna Valkonen and Anne Mäkinen.

As of March 2017, the team is ranked 28th in the FIFA world ranking. This is the lowest status since the ranking started in 2003. From 2004 to 2010 the typical ranking was #16.

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)".

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

2020

Finland v Scotland

27 October Euro 2022 qualifying	Finland	1–0	Scotland	Helsinki, Finland
17:15 (18:15 EET)	Summanen 49'	Report (UEFA)		Stadium: Helsinki Football Stadium Referee: Esther Staubli (Switzerland)

Scotland v Finland

1 December Euro 2022 qualifying	Scotland	0–1	Finland	Edinburgh, Scotland
20:30 (19:30 GMT)		Report (UEFA)	Rantanen 90+5'	Stadium: Easter Road Referee: Katalin Kulcsár (Hungary)

2021

Finland v Portugal

19 February Euro 2022 qualifying	Finland	1–0	Portugal	Helsinki, Finland
17:15 (18:15 EET)	Sällström 90+3'	Report (UEFA)		Stadium: Bolt Arena Attendance: 0 Referee: Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine)

Cyprus v Finland

23 February Euro 2022 qualifying	Cyprus	0–5	Finland	Larnaca, Cyprus
18:00 (19:00 EET)		Report (UEFA)	Koivisto 4' Sällström 6' Engman 12' Collin 31' Kemppi 90+3'	Stadium: AEK Arena – Georgios Karapatakis Attendance: 0 Referee: Rebecca Welch (England)

Austria v Finland

11 April Friendly	Austria	2–2	Finland	Ritzing, Austria
13:30	Billa 6' Höbinger 19'	Report (SW)	Summanen 54', 76'	Stadium: Sonnenseestadion Referee: Eszter Urban (Hungary)

Finland v Poland

11 June Friendly	Finland	2–2	Poland	San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain
	Summanen 23' Klabis 25' (o.g.)	Report (SW)	Grabowska 58' Pajor 77'	Stadium: Pinatar Arena Football Center

Finland v Russia

14 June Friendly	Finland	0–1	Russia	Cartagena, Spain
		Report (SW)	Smirnova 60'	Stadium: Estadio Municipal Cartaagonova Referee: Mirium Matulova

Finland v Slovakia

21 September 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A	Finland	2–1	Slovakia	Turku
17:15 (18:15 EEST)	Engman 37' Öling 68'	Report	Mikolajová 63'	Stadium: Veritas Stadion Referee: Marta Frias Acedo (Spain)

Georgia v Finland

21 October 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A	Georgia	0–3	Finland	Tbilisi
17:00 (20:00 GET)		Report	Sällström 17' Franssi 68' Alanen 71' (pen)	Stadium: Mikheil Meskhi Stadium Referee: Liudmyla Telbukh (Ukraine)

Finland v Republic of Ireland

26 October 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A	Finland	v	Republic of Ireland	Helsinki
17:15 (18:15 EEST)		Report		Stadium: Helsinki Olympic Stadium Referee: Alexandra Collin (France)

2022

Slovakia v Finland

Finland v Georgia

Spain v Finland

8 July UEFA Euro 2022 group stage	Spain	v	Finland	Milton Keynes, England
		Report		Stadium: [Stadium MK]]

Denmark v Finland

Finland v Germany

Republic of Ireland v Finland

Finland v Sweden

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

As of February 2021

• Head coach: Anna Signeul
• Assistant coach: Marianne Miettinen
• Assistant coach: Marko Saloranta
• Assistant coach: Mika Sankala
• Goalkeeping coach: Aki Moilanen

Manager history

See also: Category:Finland women's national football team managers

As of 20 February 2021

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–	Anna Signeul	29	15	7	7	051.72

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the match against Portugal and Cyprus on 19 and 23 February 2021 respectively.

Caps and goals accurate up to 27 October 2020.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Paula Myllyoja	(1984-05-20) 20 May 1984	2	0	Pink Bari
12	1GK	Anna Tamminen	(1994-10-30) 30 October 1994	5	0	Hammarby IF
23	1GK	Tinja-Riikka Korpela	(1986-05-05) 5 May 1986	91	0	Everton
2	2DF	Elli Pikkujämsä	(1999-10-24) 24 October 1999	2	0	KIF Örebro
3	2DF	Tuija Hyyrynen	(1988-03-10) 10 March 1988	109	2	Juventus
5	2DF	Emma Koivisto	(1994-09-25) 25 September 1994	54	2	Brighton & Hove Albion
6	2DF	Anna Auvinen	(1987-03-02) 2 March 1987	16	0	Inter Milan
15	2DF	Natalia Kuikka	(1995-12-01) 1 December 1995	51	3	Portland Thorns
16	2DF	Anna Westerlund	(1989-04-09) 9 April 1989	127	4	Åland United
	2DF	Eva Nyström	(1999-11-29) 29 November 1999	0	0	Hammarby IF
4	3MF	Ria Öling	(1994-09-15) 15 September 1994	39	6	Rosengård
8	3MF	Olga Ahtinen	(1997-08-15) 15 August 1997	30	3	Linköpings
10	3MF	Emmi Alanen	(1991-04-30) 30 April 1991	76	19	Växjö
11	3MF	Nora Heroum	(1994-07-20) 20 July 1994	72	1	Brighton & Hove Albion
19	3MF	Kaisa Collin	(1997-04-16) 16 April 1997	21	2	Eskilstuna United
20	3MF	Eveliina Summanen	(1998-05-29) 29 May 1998	20	2	Kristianstad
21	3MF	Iina Salmi	(1994-10-12) 12 October 1994	11	1	Valencia
	3MF	Julia Tunturi	(1996-04-25) 25 April 1996	25	0	Vittsjö
7	4FW	Adelina Engman	(1994-10-11) 11 October 1994	68	7	Montpellier
9	4FW	Juliette Kemppi	(1994-05-14) 14 May 1994	52	4	London City Lionesses
13	4FW	Jenny Danielsson	(1994-08-30) 30 August 1994	26	6	AIK
14	4FW	Amanda Rantanen	(1999-05-11) 11 May 1999	1	1	PK-35
17	4FW	Sanni Franssi	(1995-03-19) 19 March 1995	38	2	Real Sociedad
18	4FW	Linda Sällström	(1988-07-13) 13 July 1988	103	46	Paris FC
22	4FW	Jutta Rantala	(1999-11-11) 11 November 1999	1	1	Kristianstad

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	Latest call-up
GK	Milla-Maj Majasaari	(1999-10-15) 15 October 1999	0	0	AIK	v. Scotland on 27 October 2020
MF	Essi Sainio	(1986-09-09) 9 September 1986	48	3	HJK	v. Scotland on 27 October 2020

Captains

• Tinja-Riikka Korpela (????–)

Records

See also: Category:Finland women's international footballers

*Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 15 June 2021.

Most capped players

Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Years
1	Anna Westerlund	135	4	2008–
2	Laura Österberg Kalmari	130	41	1996–2011
3	Sanna Valkonen	120	7	1995–2009
4	Anne Mäkinen	118	16	1991–2009
	Jessica Julin		4	1997–2009
6	Tuija Hyyrynen	112	2	2007–
7	Linda Sällström	110	49	2007–
8	Anna-Kaisa Rantanen	105	8	1996–2011
9	Sanna Talonen	103	36	2004–2014
10	Katri Mattsson	100	2	1999–2015

Source:

Top goalscorers

Rank	Player	Goals	Caps	Years	Avg
1	Linda Sällström	48	109	2007–	0,44
2	Laura Österberg Kalmari	41	130	1996–2011	0,315
3	Sanna Talonen	36	103	2004–2014	0,35
4	Emmi Alanen	19	86	2010–	0,221
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
8	Maija Saari	11	94	2007–2016	0,117
9	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
	Adelina Engman	8	72	2012–	0,111
	Ria Öling	8	48	2015–	0,166

Source:

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
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	To be determined									To be determined
Total	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-		48	25	4	19	89	66	+23

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

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
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	Qualified									8	7	1	0	24	2	+22
Total	4/13	11	3	3	5	11	19	-8		84	31	19	34	119	129	-10

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Algarve Cup

Complete this table with details

The Algarve Cup is a global invitational tournament for national teams in women's soccer hosted by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). Held annually in the Algarve region of Portugal since 1994, it is one of the most prestigious women's football events, alongside the Women's World Cup and Women's Olympic Football.

Year	Result	Matches	Wins	Draws	Losses	GF	GA
1994	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
1995	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
1996	Did not enter
1997	Did not enter
1998	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
1999	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2000	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2001	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2002	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2003	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2004	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2005	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2006	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2007	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2008	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2009	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2010	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2011	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2012	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2013	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2014	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2015	_	0	0	0	0	0	0
2016	Did not enter
2017	Did not enter
2018	Did not enter
Total	11/25	0	0	0	0	0	0

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	−3
Total		24	6	8	17	22	43	−21

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

See also

• Sports in Finland
  • Football in Finland
    • Women's football in Finland
• Football Association of Finland (SPL)

National teams

Women's

• Finland women's national football team
  • Finland women's national football team results
  • List of Finland women's international footballers
• Finland women's national under-20 football team
• Finland women's national under-17 football team

Men's

• Finland national football team

References

External links

• Official website
• FIFA profile