Finland geared up for Women's EURO success

UEFA Women's Football Committee chairman Mircea Sandu is looking forward to UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ in Finland this summer after seeing for himself the effort being put in behind the scenes to ensure the tournament will be a success.

Build-up
While ten of the 12 finalists have been in action this month in the Cyprus Women's Cup and the Algarve Cup, which featured both hosts Finland and defending champions Germany, as part of their build-up to the competition, Mr Sandu attended November's draw in Helsinki where he witnessed first-hand the off-the-pitch work that the Local Organising Committee (LOC) is undertaking to slot all the pieces into place ahead of kick-off in the opening match in Helsinki on 23 August.

'Confident'
"This will be the biggest football tournament hosted by Finland and therefore the LOC has worked tirelessly together with the local authorities to make sure the five stadia are ready in time for the competition," said Mr Sandu, who is also a member of UEFA's Executive Committee. "Having attended the draw in Helsinki not long ago, I could see for myself the commitment and professional approach of all involved in the organisation and running of this final round. I am confident that, with the support of numerous enthusiastic volunteers, this championship will be a success."

Growth
The event, which will run from 23 August to the final at Helsinki's Olympic Stadium on 10 September, has been expanded to 12 teams – four more than the previous tournament held in England in 2005 – and is symptomatic of UEFA's desire to keep step with the growth of women's football. Previously under the auspices of the Football Development Division within UEFA, the responsibility for senior women's competitions was handed to the Professional Football Division – now the Competitions Division – in January 2005 as recognition that the gap between the top level of the women's and men's games is closing.

'Logical'
"This move came as a logical consequence of the fact that women's football itself is becoming more and more professional in all aspects," said Mr Sandu. "Therefore, it is not surprising that women's football has blossomed so much recently. The women's game is becoming more and more spectacular and entertaining, not only in terms of collective play, but also thanks to individual players who are football stars in their own right."

Enthusiastic
One of those stars, ex-international goalkeeper Satu Kunnas, has teamed up with former Finnish men's international No1 Antti Niemi to serve as ambassadors for the tournament. Kunnas was the last line of defence for the Finland side that captured the imagination of the country by reaching the semi-finals on their debut appearance four years ago, and Mr Sandu believes the work she and Niemi have put in will see an equally enthusiastic response from the public at the five tournament venues in Helsinki, Lahti, Tampere and Turku.

'Great job'
"Women's football is very popular in Finland and this country has already successfully hosted the Women's Under-19 Championship back in 2004," he said. "Antti Niemi and Satu Kunnas are doing a great job as ambassadors for this event. This being – as I said – the biggest football tournament organised in Finland, and with Finland doing so well four years ago in England despite it being their first appearance at this level, the media but also the public will certainly be eager to see them at work on home soil."