Finland is preparing for a critical Nations League Group C1 match against Albania, which currently leads the group by two points after Finland’s 0-0 draw at home against Belarus.
Finland’s assistant coach Lasse Stensgaard acknowledged the disappointment from the Belarus result but cautioned against overreacting. According to Stensgaard in an interview with SuomiFutis, “The previous match was not good. The objective is of course to play much better,” but he emphasized that the coaching staff will not abandon their overall game plan simply because of one poor performance.
Stensgaard noted a key advantage of the quick turnaround: “The best thing is that we played the game in a short time. We need to recover quickly, because normally we would probably have gone home and morale would be very low, but we are all focusing on one thing and looking forward to the next game.”
Finland’s main defensive approach—aggressive pressing—worked reasonably well against Belarus and will likely remain the focus. “What we did well against Belarus was pressing and defending,” Stensgaard said, adding that there is no reason to change the team’s defensive structure.
However, Stensgaard identified a critical weakness: Finland’s offensive use of possession. The Danes expect the battle against Albania to center on midfield control and ball retention. “Keeping the ball will probably be more difficult, as Albania is also a team that likes to keep the ball. This match will be a tough battle for possession,” he explained.
Stensgaard stressed that when Finland recovers the ball, they must execute better in the attacking third. “When we get the ball, we have to be better. When we went near the opponent’s area, we were good. We were getting into good positions, but we couldn’t find the players in the area,” he said.
The coach also noted that Albania presents a different challenge than Belarus. While both teams differ in their approach to possession, Albania actively builds play through ball control, requiring Finland to adapt tactically. “Maybe you should stick to the original plan and execute it better,” Stensgaard concluded, emphasizing execution over wholesale changes.
For Finland, the match against Albania is a direct opportunity to close the two-point gap and alter the dynamics at the top of Group C1.
Key facts
- Finland drew 0-0 with Belarus at home, trailing Albania by two points in Group C1
- Finland’s assistant coach Lasse Stensgaard says the team needs to improve offensive execution rather than change overall strategy
- The key battle will be midfield possession, as Albania—unlike Belarus—builds play through ball control
- Finland will maintain aggressive pressing defensively but focus on better ball use in attack