Finland vs Armenia
Euro 2020 Qualification
Date: Tuesday, 15 October 2019
Kick-off at 17:00 UK / 18:00 CET
Venue: Veritas Stadion (Turku).
Finland Team News
It all looked so good for Finland just over a month ago. They had just beaten Greece 1-0 to record their fourth straight win in the group, all of which are included clean sheets - a feat they will succeed in the League of Nations last year. Man then Teemu Pukki scored four goals in four wins, and there seemed really interesting balance between strong defense and forward the clinical striker.
But after that, they lost their second game to Italy, Jorginho late penalty to secure victory for Italy in Tampere. However, Finland find themselves in a strong position with their destiny in their own hands, with the second match against the runaway league leaders out of the way.
There would have been positive in the camp when they approach this latest international break, but they suffered a nightmare 4-1 defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina to give them a chance of being caught now (Bosnia-Herzegovina moved just two points behind them with the winner). Defensive solidity of their recent success is built on totally eroded. However, Markku Kanerva hoping to keep the faith and choose the players believed, with Joona Toivio and Paulus Arajuuri at the back and Pukki at the top.
Armenian News Team
Such as Finland, Armenia has been made for the international summer tournament, falling well short of the qualifying campaign in every European Cup and World Championships since they became an independent nation in the early 90's. In the qualifying round of Euro, they have been completed under the two groups of them all but once in their history, so that went into the final three games with a chance, having won three of their seven games so far, is a sign of marked improvement.
All ten of their points came from their last five games, but they missed a great opportunity to pick up two more on the weekend when they could only draw 1-1 away to Liechtenstein, the side which they breezed past 3-0 at home in June. Armenia lost their last game against Finland back in the first round of qualifying, being a 2-0 defeat at home.
key players on the day this may include AEL Limassol Gevorg Ghazaryan, who has the most goals in the squad (13), next to Hoffenheim Sargis Adamyan, and experienced defender Hovhannes Hambardzumyan in the backline.
Match Facts
Finland has kept a clean sheet in their last 3 games against Armenia in all competitions.
Finland has seen under 2.5 goals in their last 3 games against Armenia in all competitions.
Finland unbeaten in their last 5 games against Armenia in all competitions.
Predicition
A Finnish side usually assertive and organized cut apart by Bosnia and Herzegovina at the weekend and injured Paulus Arajuuri it certainly felt.
Armenia lost a great opportunity to stake a real claim for a top-two finish by dropping points for Liechtenstein but know that a win here would lift them into second place.
The home team should benefit from the support of the crowd they come Tuesday and all but ended hopes of Armenia on two finish with a routine victory that would move them a major step closer to next summer's finals.
Prediction: Finland 2- 0 Armenia
