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]
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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 ![]() | ||
Highest | 14 (September 2005) | ||
Lowest | 32 (March 2019) | ||
First international | |||
![]() ![]() (Mariehamn, Finland; 25 August 1973) | |||
Biggest win | |||
![]() ![]() (Lovech, Bulgaria; 21 August 2014) ![]() ![]() (Larnaca, Cyprus; 19 February 2023) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
![]() ![]() (Vejen, Denmark; 26 July 1975) | |||
European Championship | |||
Appearances | 4 (first in 2005) | ||
Best result | Semi-finals (2005) |
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
editThe beginning
editThe Finland women's national football team played its first international match in 1973 against Sweden. The game was played in Mariehamn, Åland.
Team image
editNicknames
editThe Finland women's national football team has been known or nicknamed as the "Helmarit (the Boreal Owls)".[1]
Results and fixtures
editThe 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
edit23 September 2023–24 UEFA Nations League | Finland | 4–0 | Slovakia | Turku |
17:30 (18:30 EEST) | Sällström 5' Rantala 23' Kosola 45', 75' |
Report | Stadium: Veritas Stadion Attendance: 5,062 Referee: Michèle Schmölzer (Switzerland) |
26 September 2023–24 UEFA Nations League | Romania | 0–1 | Finland | Bucharest |
18:00 | Report | Stadium: Stadionul Arcul de Triumf Referee: Angelika Soeder (Germany) |
27 October 2023–24 UEFA Nations League | Finland | 3–0 | Croatia | Helsinki |
17:45 | Report | Stadium: Bolt Arena Referee: Désirée Grundbacher (Switzerland) |
31 October 2023–24 UEFA Nations League | Croatia | 0–2 | Finland | Šibenik |
18:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Stadion Šubićevac Referee: Teresa Oliveira (Portugal) |
30 November 2023–24 UEFA Nations League | Finland | 6–0 | Romania | Turku |
17:45 | Report | Stadium: Veritas Stadion |
5 December 2023–24 UEFA Nations League | Slovakia | 2–2 | Finland | Trnava |
Report | Stadium: Anton Malatinský Stadium |
2024
edit21 February Friendly | Finland | 4–0 | Philippines | San Pedro del Pinatar |
Report | Stadium: Pinatar Arena |
24 February 2024 Pinatar Cup SF | Slovenia | 0–1 | Finland | San Pedro del Pinatar |
Stadium: Pinatar Arena |
27 February 2024 Pinatar Cup Final | Scotland | 1–1 (4–5 p) | Finland | San Pedro del Pinatar |
Stadium: Pinatar Arena |
5 April Euro 2025 qualifying | Norway | 4–0 | Finland | Oslo |
18:00 | Report | Stadium: Ullevaal Stadion Referee: Catarina Campos (Portugal) |
9 April Euro 2025 qualifying | Finland | 2–1 | Italy | Helsinki |
18:15 | Report | Stadium: Helsinki Football Stadium Referee: Marta Huerta de Aza (Spain) |
31 May Euro 2025 qualifying | Netherlands | 1–0 | Finland | Rotterdam |
20:45 | Beerensteyn 65' | Report | Stadium: Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel Attendance: 9,089 Referee: Frida Klarlund (Denmark) |
4 June Euro 2025 qualifying | Finland | 1–1 | Netherlands | Tampere |
18:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Tammelan Stadion Attendance: 7,677 Referee: Sandra Bastos (Portugal) |
12 July Euro 2025 qualifying | Finland | 1–1 | Norway | Turku |
Report | Stadium: Veritas Stadion |
16 July Euro 2025 qualifying | Italy | 4–0 | Finland | Bolzano |
19:00 | Report | Stadium: Stadio Druso |
Coaching staff
editCurrent coaching staff
editAs of August 2022
- Head coach: Marko Saloranta
- Assistant coach: Marianne Miettinen
- Assistant coach: Mika Sankala
- Assistant coach: Ann-Helen Grahm
- Goalkeeping coach: Aki Moilanen
Manager history
edit- As of 21 February 2024
Tenure | Coach | Record | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | W | D | L | Win % | |||||
1973–77 | Juhani Nirkkonen | 12 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 8.33 | |||
1978 | Simo Syrjävaara | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 33.33 | |||
1979–89 | Kaj Österberg | 44 | 13 | 12 | 19 | 29.55 | |||
1989–92 | Jyrki Nieminen | 24 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 12.50 | |||
1993–96 | Nils Suomalainen | 24 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 16.67 | |||
1996–00 | Reima Kokko | 46 | 11 | 3 | 32 | 23.91 | |||
2001–09 | Michael Käld | 107 | 35 | 22 | 50 | 32.71 | |||
2010–16 | Andrée Jeglertz | 76 | 27 | 13 | 36 | 35.53 | |||
2017 | Marko Saloranta | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 33.33 | |||
2017–2022 | Anna Signeul | 47 | 19 | 11 | 17 | 40.43 | |||
2022– | Marko Saloranta | 17 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 70.59 |
Players
editCurrent squad
edit- The following players were called up for the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying matches against Norway and Italy on 12 and 16 July 2024 respectively.[6]
Stats after match with Scotland on 18 July 2023.
Recent call ups
editThe 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 | Katriina Talaslahti | 21 September 2000 | 2 | 0 | Le Havre | |
GK | Anna Koivunen | 28 November 1999 | 0 | IF Brommapojkarna | v. Netherlands, 4 June 2024 | |
DF | Elli Pikkujämsä | 24 October 1999 | 23 | 1 | Racing Louisville | v. Italy, 9 April 2024 |
DF | Tiia Peltonen | 8 June 1995 | 7 | 0 | Fortuna Hjørring | v. Italy, 9 April 2024 |
DF | Tuuli Viinikka | 27 October 2004 | 0 | KuPS | v. Slovakia, 5 December 2023 | |
MF | Emma Peuhkurinen | 30 November 1999 | 5 | 0 | Lillestrøm | v. Italy, 9 April 2024 |
MF | Katariina Kosola | 24 February 2001 | 8 | 1 | Häcken | v. Italy, 9 April 2024 |
MF | Aada Nurmi | 12 March 2003 | 0 | KuPS | v. Slovakia, 5 December 2023 | |
FW | Sanni Franssi | 19 March 1995 | 60 | 4 | Real Sociedad | v. Netherlands, 4 June 2024 |
Records
edit*Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 9 July 2022
Most capped players
editRank | 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:[7]
Top goalscorers
editRank | 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:[7]
Competitive record
editFIFA Women's World Cup
editFIFA 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 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 12 | −10 | |||||||||
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
editSummer Olympics record | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA |
1996 | Did not qualify | ||||||
2000 | |||||||
2004 | |||||||
2008 | |||||||
2012 | |||||||
2016 | |||||||
2020 | |||||||
2024 | Unable to qualify | ||||||
2028 | To be determined | ||||||
2032 | |||||||
Total | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
UEFA Women's Championship
editUEFA 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 | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | −7 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 2 | +22 | |
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
editUEFA 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 | 18th | ||
2025–26 | A | To be determined | ||||||||||
Total | 18th |
Pinatar Cup
editPinatar 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
editCyprus 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
editAlgarve 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
editWomen'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
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Helmarit nimetty MM-karsinta-avaukseen Serbiaa vastaan" (in Finnish). 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.
- ^ "Helmarit nimetty EM-karsintojen ratkaisuotteluihin Norjaa ja Italiaa vastaan" (in Finnish). Football Federation. 28 May 2024.
- ^ a b "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.