Mäkinen and Salmén back for Finland

Finland coach Michael Käld has named a squad of 21 players for the upcoming friendly against Sweden at Pori on Wednesday as the neighbouring countries continue their preparations for UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™.

Nokso-Koivisto included
Käld welcomes back Anne Mäkinen and Tiina Salmén, who both missed the 3-2 friendly victory against Italy in May because of injuries. A new name in the squad is winger Katri Nokso-Koivisto, who will replace injured Leena Puranen. "She was a natural choice," said Käld. "She has been in the squad during the winter, and after Puranen was injured we needed a left winger."

Haikka out
He also suffered a setback when goalkeeper Tinja Haikka had to withdraw from the squad because of a shoulder injury. The young third-choice goalkeeper is also likely to miss the finals so FC Ilves custodian Noora Matikainen has been called up as her replacement. Finland complete their friendly programme on 10 August against Northern Ireland at the Helsinki Football Stadium and 13 days later launch the finals versus Denmark at the capital's Olympic Stadium which will then stage further Group A games with the Netherlands and Ukraine.

Finland squad
Goalkeepers: Minna Meriluoto (Hammarby IF DFF), Tinja-Riikka Korpela (FC Honka Espoo), Noora Matikainen (FC Ilves).

Defenders: Petra Vaelma (Klepp IL), Sanna Valkonen (KIF Örebro DFF), Miia Niemi (Amazon Grimstad FK), Tuija Hyyrynen (HJK Helsinki), Maija Saari (Umeå IK), Tiina Salmén (Amazon Grimstad FK).

Midfielders: Anne Mäkinen (AIK Fotboll), Jessica Julin (Stattena IF), Anna-Kaisa Rantanen (Djurgårdens IF FF), Susanna Lehtinen (KIF Örebro DFF), Sanna Malaska (Amazon Grimstad FK), Anna Westerlund (FC Honka Espoo), Essi Sainio (AIK Fotboll), Katri Nokso-Koivisto (VfL Wolfsburg).

Forwards: Laura Österberg-Kalmari (AIK Fotboll), Sanna Talonen (KIF Örebro DFF), Linda Sällström (Djurgårdens IF FF), Annica Sjölund (AIK Fotball).