Käld thrilled by challenge facing Finland
Tuesday 18 November 2008
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Finland coach Michael Käld gives his reaction to the draw (©UEFA)
Finland coach Michael Käld declared "I would not swap places with any other team" after the UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ hosts were pitted against Denmark, the Netherlands and Ukraine in Group A. His Danish counterpart Kenneth Heiner-Møller admitted meeting the home nation in the opening game at Helsinki's Olympic Stadium on 23 August was a "dream scenario", while Netherlands coach Vera Pauw and Ukraine's Anatoliy Kutsev were also positive as they assessed the draw in Helsinki.
Michael Käld, Finland coach
I cannot be anything but happy with the draw. Group B seems to be really tough and Group C is not easy either. I am not saying our group is an easy one, of course, one has to remember that every team in the finals is a tough team. Ukraine and the Netherlands have qualified for the first time, but both are real footballing countries. Being a first-timer in the finals will also give them an extra boost. We had it four years ago in England and I am sure both Ukraine and the Netherlands will have it next summer. All in all I am happy with the draw and would not change places with any other team. The tournament attendance record was set [in 2005] when we played England at the City of Manchester Stadium. It will be a question of honour to the Finnish people to break that record next summer. If we can attract over 30,000 spectators to our matches, I am convinced the home crowd will be the proverbial 12th player for us.
Anatoliy Kutsev, Ukraine coach
We don't know much about Finland, but we still have plenty of time to get to know their team. We will try our best to find all the necessary information. As for the Netherlands, it's a big football country in both the men's and women's game. Two victories against Spain in the play-offs indicate their strength more than any words, as they won 2-0 both at home and away. They are a really good side. And Denmark we know very well, as we met in qualifying. I shared a joke with Denmark coach Kenneth Heiner-Møller after the draw, as in qualifying we beat each other 1-0 at home. Now we will have a chance to decide an overall winner in Finland next summer.
Kenneth Heiner-Møller, Denmark coach
To open against Finland in Finland, it's the dream scenario. We have deep respect for the Finnish team but to play the opener in Finland, that's great. All our games [against Finland] have been decided by one goal, and this could be the same. We hope that will be to our advantage. Ukrainian football is getting so much better. All the players have been playing for Russian clubs, they are an upcoming nation and I think Ukraine can cause an upset in WOMEN'S EURO next year. We played the Netherlands a couple of years ago and won by a goal, so they are another nation we respect. We know they are getting better and better in the last few years and they have done well in qualification.
Vera Pauw, Netherlands coach
I played [Ukraine] a few years ago when I was Scotland coach, we will need to scout them and then we will make our strategy. We know Denmark are one of the top countries in women's football. It will be very, very difficult to get a result against them. But we will do all we can and we know that to play them we need to get physically stronger, at this level you need to be able to cope with that and that is the strength of the teams in our group. Finland were semi-finalists in 2005 and they have actually been an example for us to follow. So it is fantastic to play them, especially as they are the hosts.
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