Äijälä replaces Ojala for Finland
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Article summary
Myllykosken Pallo-47 midfielder Ilari Äijälä has been called up to Finland's 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad after FC International Turku's Mika Ojala was forced to withdraw through injury.
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Myllykosken Pallo-47 midfielder Ilari Äijälä has been called up to the Finland squad for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship after FC International Turku's Mika Ojala was forced to withdraw through injury.
Ankle injury
Ojala sustained an ankle injury after scoring in Inter Turku's 2-1 win against FC Honka Espoo on Monday, and though the extent of the problem is not yet known, it is deemed serious enough to prevent him from playing any part in Sweden later this month. "It is a very sad thing for the whole team and for Mika himself," Finland coach Markku Kanerva said. "Injuries are a part of football, but that cliché is a small consolation at the moment. Ilari is a good addition to the squad. He is left-footed and a former full-back which gives us another option on the left." Finland kick off their Group B campaign in the tournament's opening match against England in Halmstad on 15 June.
