Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland: Miserable Euro 2024 qualifying campaign continues as Northern Ireland thrashed in Helsinki
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ByEurosport
Updated 17/11/2023 at 20:00 GMT
Northern Ireland were beaten for the seventh time in nine Euro 2024 Group H qualifying matches as they went down 4-0 to Finland in Helsinki. Michael O'Neill's side are set to finish second bottom of their group with only pointless San Marino below them. Goals from Joel Pohjanpalo, Daniel Hakans, Teemu Pukki and Robin Lod sealed an emphatic win for the home side
Teemu Pukki of Finland (2nd R) celebrates scoring the 3-0 goal with his team-mates during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group H qualification football match between Finland and Northern Ireland in Helsinki on November 17, 2023. (Photo by Roni Rekomaa / LEHTIKUVA / A
Image credit: Getty Images
After three straight losses Finland found their form by hitting four against Northern Ireland who’s qualifying campaign looks to end with a whimper.
During a largely uneventful first half Finland found their breakthrough in the form of a penalty won by Nikolai Alho, who was scythed down as he looked to chase onto a lose ball.
Pohjanpalo converted the penalty and from here on Finland didn’t look back.
A quick start to the second followed as Daniel Hakans struck early in the early minutes after the restart.
The introduction of Teemu Pukki was the final nail in Northern Ireland’s coffin as he scored the third before setting up the fourth with a wonderful nutmeg.
Michael O’Neill’s men struggled to create any meaningful chances and have now scored only seven goals from their nine qualifying games, picking up just six points in the process.
On the other hand, the Finns will take pride in a comprehensive win on home soil as they looked to build momentum before their Euro 2024 Qualifying play-offs.
Talking Point – Where now for Michael O’Neill’s men?
Northern Ireland sit second bottom of Group H with just seven goals and six points in nine matches. The only team below them are notorious minnows San Marino, whom Northern Ireland’s two wins came against.
A return of Michael O’Neill as manager in March has not seen an upturn in form and now many will be asking where the national side goes next after another defeat in which they failed to threaten.
The hope for Northern Ireland will be in the youngsters who came into the side. Both Isaac Price and Ross McCausland who started the game are 20, while three teenagers in the form of Forbes, Marshall and Spencer came on during the game.
With this miserable qualifying campaign behind them it leaves a question of if Michael O’Neill can create another squad to replicate the heights of the 2016 when the team reached the round of 16 at the European Championships.
Player of the Match – Glen Kamara (Finland)
Teemu Pukki’s thirty-minute cameo was a delight, but Kamara was firing even when Finland weren’t in this game. He linked up well with Pohjanpalo in the first half and after providing an assist for the second goal, Leeds will surely hope he comes home in one piece.
Player Ratings
Finland- Hradecky 7, Alho 7, Tenho 6, Ivanov 7, Peltola 6, Kamara 8, Schuller 7, Kairinen 6, Jensen 5, Pohjanpalo 7, Hakans 7, Subs- Pukki 8, Lod, 7, Taylor 6, Pallas 5, Lingman 5
Northern Ireland- Hazard 3, Toal 5, McNair 6, Ballard 5, Hume 5, McCausland 4, Saville 6, Thompson 5, Lewis 6, Price 4, Charles 5, Subs- Washington 5, Magennis 4, Spencer 5, Marshall 5, Forbes 5,
Match Highlights
42' - GOAL! Finland 1-0 Northern Ireland (Pohjanpalo)- Pohjanpalo gives the keeper no chance with a well struck penalty into the bottom left corner to get Finland firing.
48' - GOAL! Finland 2-0 Northern Ireland (Hakans)- A swift Finland move down the left wing is finished with aplomb into the near post of Hazard’s goal.
48' - GOAL! Finland 2-0 Northern Ireland (Hakans)- A swift Finland move down the left wing is finished with aplomb into the near post of Hazard’s goal.
74' - GOAL! Finland 3-0 Northern Ireland (Pukki)- The talismanic Fin finds the top right of the net with a great curling strike.
88' - GOAL! Finland 4-0 Northern Ireland (Lod)- The rout is rounded off by Lod after a wonderful pass by Pukki which took three Northern Irish defenders out of the game, nutmegging one in the process.
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