UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Barrling joins Miettinen in praising Finland

Sweden coach Calle Barrling expects better from the title holders after the 1-1 Group B draw with Finland, a game Marianne Miettinen says her side were "closer to winning".

Barrling joins Miettinen in praising Finland
Barrling joins Miettinen in praising Finland ©UEFA.com

Marianne Miettinen, Finland coach
With the performance, I'm really happy. I think we were the team closer to winning today. This was the seventh official game that this team have played together and we are still unbeaten. So I'm happy with that and we've started the tournament with a point.

We couldn't afford to lose the first game, but there is a bit of a sour feeling because I felt we were closer to winning. That's the confidence we've shown against the best teams, Spain and Portugal in qualifying and now Sweden. My players know that they can play. They trust in each other and they trust in the way they've been played for the last one and a half years. They showed that they want to win, and they want to win by playing our own style. I'm really proud of that. They kept playing and kept creating chances.

I told them in the dressing room beforehand about the importance of the first 15 minutes, but unfortunately Sweden began sharper and they got the early goal. I think it showed how mentally strong this team is that we can back from 1-0 and be closer to winning today. Everything in the group is still open. The girls were disappointed with the draw but that shows how hungry they are. A good recovery and then we'll prepare well for the game against Norway.

Calle Barrling, Sweden coach 
I'm happy with the point. The performance was decent for 25 minutes – after that, apart from maybe the last ten minutes, I don't think we performed very well. But Finland were good, they have a really good team and I think they knew it as well. Even if they were 1-0 down, they played with confidence and with good technical players. So those things considered, I think a draw is a good result in a group of four, where two teams will go through.

But while a draw is good, we have to think about our performance from the 25th minute. We haven't played since May, the players have been away on holiday, and I think we needed a game in our legs. I think we need to be fitter and playing together more cooperatively next time. We must improve and I know we will. It's good to have Germany next because, in a way, we must win that one. We're in it because we got a point; if we'd lost it would have been difficult.

The girls themselves were a bit disappointed with the performance. They knew Finland have a good team but they still wanted to win, we all wanted to win. All eight teams here want to win so we have to prepare better before the next game.

Selected for you