November 2019, the "Huuhkajat" or "Eagles Owls" write history by qualifying for a major tournament for the first time.
*Commentator and public shout*
Teemu Pukki is already a living legend with 10 goals, firing his team into the 2020 European Championship.
(Lukáš Hrádecký) : -"It's indescribable, people running onto the pitch. I got some "Huuks" (Finland's supporters)
in tears and saying how much it meant to them.
This is for all Finland and we showed what we can do as a nation."
(Teemu Pukki): "It's for all the people in Finland who live football so it feels amazing.
It's been a long dream for all of us."
The Finnish Football Association (Suomen Palloliito) was founded back in 1907.
113 years later, the men's team will be compeating at its first Euros.
It can get pretty cold in Finland and in winter very dark.
It's also one of the most spacely populated countries in Europe.
The country has a total population of 5.5 million, less than that of some major cities in the continent.
But despite the distinctly chilly conditions the Finns are officially the most upbeat people on the planet.
According to the UN's world happiness report.
(Lukáš Hrádecký): -"They say finnish people are very closed and rude but I don't think that's the case,
I mean, it's a country that is socially introverted, we like to hold our own space but
when someone needs help, we always help him."
And Finns need no help when it comes to inventing weird or wonderful pastimes.
From wife-carrying to swamp Football.
But their most important leisure pursuit is of course going to the sauna.
The country has 2.5 million "sweat lodges" as the word literally means. That's one sauna for every two people.
But sports-wise, ice hockey tops everything and people don't blink when the president takes to the rink.
As for Football the men's team at least have always minnows and had never qualified for a tournament before.
It's been a long fight to get to the Euros.
(Matti Härkönen): " In history, a lot of disappointments happened and even in Finland, we have an own word to football.
In other countries, they played football and here in Finland we play "Potkupallo",
which means something like "kicking the ball without purpose".
We have always been playing like this. It's a country that never achieved anything.
So it's really strange to be in this situation now."
Now, the men's football team are kicking with a purpose as a new chapter in Finnish sporting history dawns.
So what's changed? We accompany HJK Helsinki's youth team coach
Daniel Ursin to Lahti.
This is the hometown of Jari Litmanen, Finland's most capped and arguably greatest ever player with
137 appearances : hence the statue.
Even in the days of "Potkupallo", Finland produced a number of good players.
Former Finland defender Petri Pasanen knows what's different now.
(Petri Pasanen): " When I played, we had Jari Litmanen, Sami Hyypiä, big names, big stars.
And the hierarchy was there.
We got along just fine but this is different in this team, we have Teemu Pukki, Lukáš Hrádecký.
For those two guys are just part of the team.
So in that sense, I think it's a team that Finnish people can really identify themselves.
It is just a bunch of normal guys who have really shown that if you are a unit you can achieve big things.
Although your material is a bit less than probably most of the good teams."
Regular guys perhaps but more than just normal on the pitch.
The standard of football has improved in recent years, thanks also to the Finnish FA
committing more ressources to youth development.
(Petri Pasanen): -" Nowadays the coaches in Finland, they just have more information available
through technology, through data.
And they are more aware of the qualities they could make better, when coaching young players.
And when that happens all over Finland, the logical next step will be that we just get more better players.
If that produces top players, that's another thing, but I think that basic level has risen up a bit."
The often harsh climatic conditions hardly lend themselves to outdoor football.
So the building of sports halls with full-sized pitches means the youngsters can now practise all year.
And in addition to better facilities, the philosophy behind training programs has likewise entered the modern age.
(Mikael Forsell): "When I look back at my youth and also my professional carrier, I think that
nobody asked me a question how things should be done, I was told how things should be done.
I think that the coaching has turned more into the pragmatic way that you ask players, make them think by themselves.
And you never tell them the answer directly and you lead them on. I think this is the right way currently.
I also think that in a couple of years, we'll see that become adults and go into the professional world.
I'm sure this will come more and more there as well.
Youth coaches like Daniel Ursin are shaping the future of Finnish football.
The focus is on improved training for coaches and kids alike, working on skills, technique and above all
a personnality development for the budding new stars.
(Daniel Ursin): -"Sometimes we are too humble, like outside of the pitch and then we are too kind
but we try to change that. Of course we have to teach them good values like respect their opponent and all this kind of things.
But I think you have to be a little bit aggressive."
The dream of a new golden generation is well and truly alive.
Indoor venues like this one are a step forwards.
The country's professional clubs are currently progressing in leaps and bounds.
(Juha Valla): -" This is not only for football, so if you play american football, rugby or whatever, it's for everybody.
This has been a very important development, during the last 10-15 years ,different clubs have improved
their facilities by their own and this is creating a new phenomenon in Finland which is
old news in Central European's clubs.
We are starting to have our own training center, at least the biggest clubs."
Did we mention before that it can get dark in Finland ?
The winter evenings are very long, providing plenty of times to chat about the "Eagles Owls" evolution
and perhaps take a closer look at the secret to that success.
(Daniel Ursin): -"You need to be more like some kind of a teacher or like a father, something like that
because so short time that they are together and it's more about mentality."
-"I can see on the pitch that players enjoy what they do together, what is their ambition
and attitude when they're playing .
You also can get that when you watch that."
What was that about needing a teacher ?
Just as well that Markku Kanerva is Finland's head coach
during his playing days he was also an elementary school tutor.
(Lukáš Hrádecký): "The clarity that how he speaks to the players like he was a teacher, his job is now coach but
he's always like a teacher by the way that he talks to the players, the way he compliments them
I think that's a reason to respect him.
Sometimes, it's pretty funny when he's holding the meetings with this cane, he's pointing towards the TV.
We have a laugh and he is a guy who has a bit a humor and self irony as well so that's important."
Kanerva, commonly known by his nickname "Rive" has been to the European Championships before
in charge of the U21 side in 2009.
(Markku Kanerva): "As a leader, if you are teacher or head coach or coach
generally you have to handle individuals in a group and get them work together.
Of course, I learned a lot when I worked as a teacher and those tools I got from
that education I will use them as a coach as well.
But I don't want to take all the honor, the honor belongs to the players and the whole team including staff as well."
The "Eagles Owls" high-flying achievements have been duly honored by the press
with the association's media day event attended by domestic and international journalists.
And the media can always be counted on to conjure up a catchy name for a new phenomenon.
(Matti Härkönen): " We have this word "Rive-lution" which comes from his (Markku Kanerva) nickname "Rive".
The "Rive-lution" is happening now. You can't stop the "Rive-lution". "
*Supporters shouting "S-U-O-M-I, SUOMI, SUOMI"*
Finland are living the dream, the "Rive-lution".
(Lukáš Hrádecký): -"I'm speechless. Thank you Finland and I hope that they're proud of us."
(Teemu Pukki): -" We are not going there just to lose
we'll go and try to make some points and even go through the group stage."
(Markku Kanerva): "After this will inspire and motivate all the people who are working for Finland's football.
The kids, all the football players, the parents, the coaches... everyone."