Kanerva names initial Finland squad

Finland coach Markku Kanerva has named a 22-man selection for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Sweden, with the final place in the squad still to be decided.

Eremenko decision
Kanerva has held back on naming the last member of his playing party until he speaks to Udinese Calcio midfielder Roman Eremenko, who is currently on loan at FC Dynamo Kyiv. Eremenko is eligible for the finals but is a regular for the senior national side and did not make a single appearance in Finland's U21 qualification campaign. "Roman will be coming to Finland later this week and we will have a talk then," Kanerva said. "I hope everything works out and we will see also him in Sweden. However, we must remember that we do not rise or fall because of one single player, our strength is playing as a team.

'Tough choice'
"It was not an easy task to pick up the list," Kanerva added. "Fifteen or 16 names were easy to choose, but after that I had a lot to think about. I went to see a lot of games and I was thinking about our tactics, what each player could bring to the team and I also had to think about the opponents we will face in the finals. It was not easy, but that just shows we have plenty of good players to choose from."

Hradecky inclusion
Goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky is selected despite not having any experience at this level, although it is expected that Anssi Jaakkola will be Kanerva's first choice between the posts after deputising for the now injured Tomi Maanoja during qualifying. Sevilla FC striker Teemu Pukki and Stormvogels Telstar centre-back Joona Toivio have been called up after both impressing this season – Pukki mainly with Sevilla Atlético Club in the Spanish second division and for the Finland Under-19 side.

Finland squad
Goalkeepers: Anssi Jaakkola (AC Siena), Lukas Hradecky (Esbjerg fB), Jukka Lehtovaara (FC TPS Turku).

Defenders: Jukka Raitala (HJK Helsinki), Joni Aho (FC International Turku), Ville Jalasto (Aalesunds FK), Jonas Portin (FF Jaro), Joona Toivio (AZ Alkmaar), Tuomo Turunen (FC Honka Espoo), Pyry Kärkkäinen (HJK Helsinki).

Midfielders: Tim Sparv (Halmstads BK), Mehmet Hetemaj (Panionios GSS), Juha Hakola (Heracles Almelo), Kasper Hämäläinen (FC TPS Turku), Mika Ojala (FC International Turku), Nicholas Otaru, (FC Honka Espoo), Perparim Hetemaj (AEK Athens FC),  Jussi Vasara (FC Honka Espoo).

Forwards: Berat Sadik (DSC Arminia Bielefeld), Teemu Pukki (Sevilla FC), Jarno Parikka (HJK Helsinki), Aleksandr Kokko (FC Honka Espoo).