Finland bank on new blood

Roman Eremenko and Hannu Patronen are in line for their Finland debuts after being called for the home qualifiers against Serbia and Belgium.

Younger brother
Eremenko, the younger brother of fellow midfielder Alexei Eremenko Jr, and the defensive-minded Patronen are not the only ones hoping to make their bow, as goalkeeper Magnus Bahne and full-back Veli Lampi are both in a similar position. Captain Jari Litmanen is a minor doubt for the two games at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki as he has been struggling with injuries but is expected to be fit. Finland are fourth in UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group A, but are level with second-placed Portugal and Serbia, in third, on eleven points.

Finland squad
Goalkeepers: Jussi Jääskeläinen (Bolton Wanderers FC), Peter Enckelman (Blackburn Rovers FC), Magnus Bahne (Halmstads BK).

Defenders: Sami Hyypiä (Liverpool FC), Hannu Tihinen (FC Zürich), Petri Pasanen (Werder Bremen), Toni Kallio (BSC Young Boys), Toni Kuivasto (Djurgårdens IF), Veli Lampi (FC Zürich), Ari Nyman (FC Thun), Hannu Patronen (FC Honka).

Midfielders: Teemu Tainio (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Joonas Kolkka (Feyenoord), Jari Ilola (IF Elfsborg), Markus Heikkinen (Luton Town FC), Mika Väyrynen (PSV Eindhoven), Mika Nurmela (HJK Helsinki), Peter Kopteff (FC Utrecht), Alexei Eremenko Jr (FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast), Roman Eremenko (AC Siena).

Forwards: Jari Litmanen (Malmö FF), Mikael Forssell (Birmingham City FC), Jonatan Johansson (Malmö FF), Shefki Kuqi (Crystal Palace FC).