Coach quotes: Finland

Marko Saloranta, Finland coach:

Some players are able to play in two or three positions and most important is to have the most suitable player for that game – we see our opponents, what we need and then select our players. Of course we need to have the players. Normally we have a back four. We have one player at her club who is playing in midfield, but for us she is playing as full-back. We are looking for a suitable mix as a team. Of course we want to win the games, but we want to find those players who are perhaps physically smaller but they have good capacity to improve, so it's best to let them play. Both goalkeepers we have can make it to the A team – never had two goalkeepers of this level. Outfield players? We have six or seven who have that chance – it will be important how they are training in next years, staying free from injuries and that their motivation is high enough. I would say that in five years, we could have five to seven players for the A team.

We've played against all the top-ranked nations – in the elite round we had Sweden, France, Scotland – France were leading two times and they are top in Europe, but my players were crying because we only drew 2-2 with them and I like that attitude.

We want continuation in terms of staff: it's better for the players and gives us continuity too. I was Under-16 and under-17 coach 2005 to 2008 and was a club coach in our highest league team, then in 2009 I was assistant coach of senior team and I am now in this position since 2011, without coaching a league team at the same time.

The rhythm is the same as in elite round, where we also have very good teams of our age. Here all the teams are very high quality and very good teams who are not even here. For the players and for us it is a little bit bigger, but we are doing everything the same as in an elite round. We want more days together for the players to develop – if you are not at a final tournament, it's one and a half years with nothing then they go to under-19s, so there aren't that many days together then.

We use 'Polar' in every training session, every game, every camp – physios take care of Polar data as they are also fitness coaches. After every camp when we are coming to the tournament, we're not guessing what they need to do. Important information for club coaches what they need in those games and train during the week if they want to achieve – it's not guessing, it's knowing.  After our last game is played, I will send all the data to the club coaches – after the training session, I will go through everything. Game day morning, before game, after game, next morning – every girl weighs herself and female physio is following them. Good that we've been doing it all the time as it is so individual and find different ways for different players – sometimes dinner is not enough, they need a snack too, or how they need to drink other than water. It's been extremely good as we have the background. Those physios are with the team since we started.

Finland goalkeeping coach:

I coach in Turku with a women's team – first tournament with U17s. Good for me, I will be at boys' U19s this summer – started one and a half year ago. How we are defending the area and crosses. Tactical knowledge is not so good at this level – defending the area and defending on crosses. It's about the coaches and how to educate putting more effort on technical and now we are putting more effort on tactical. If I am comparing our goalkeepers, I am sure they are better at this level in girls than in boys – I also work with U16s boys.

Coach working closely with the assistant coach. At this age group, they have started at eight years old – they should start earlier, be involved in training with the whole team, but earlier would be better. We can do more technical things when 8, 9, 10 then at 10 tactical, now they are more 10,11,12 and only when they are 12 you start working on the tactical things.