SM
Spurs vs. Arsenal: 15 hrs 27 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Markku Kanerva hopes Finland can be "fully focused" against Russia

:Headline: Markku Kanerva hopes Finland can be 'fully focused' against Russia:
Russia are bidding to bounce back from their 3-0 opening group defeat to Belgium.
Sports Mole

Finland boss Markku Kanerva admitted he was unsure how his players will react to Christian Eriksen's cardiac arrest in their next game on Wednesday against Russia.

The Finns launched their first major tournament with a 1-0 win against Denmark on Sunday, but their opening Group B fixture was overshadowed by Eriksen's first-half collapse.

Eriksen is recovering in hospital and Finland have since relocated from Copenhagen to St Petersburg. Kanerva's squad could book their place in the round of 16 with victory if Denmark fail to beat Belgium.

"It is hard to estimate how the event of Eriksen will affect different people and of course we all have it in our minds," former Finland defender Kanerva told a press conference.

"We are very glad that Eriksen is doing better and I hope regarding the difficult situation we will be able to concentrate on tomorrow's match.

"Certainly it will remain in our minds, even after the tournament. Maybe we will be able to appreciate the (Denmark) win even more.

"But it is not an easy task for all of us to concentrate only on football because there were bigger things than football in play."

Finland sealed their place at a major tournament for the first time in November 2019 when finishing behind Italy in their qualifying group.

Kanerva, a former schoolteacher, said Sunday's win was the pinnacle of his managerial career so far.

"It was one game and an important one, but we don't want to dwell on that," he added. "We want to be fully focused for the match against Russia. We're still on the road."

Russia, bidding to bounce back from their 3-0 opening group defeat to Belgium, have been dealt a blow with news Yuri Zhirkov could be ruled out for the rest of the tournament.

The Zenit St Petersburg midfielder was forced off against Belgium due to a calf injury and head coach Stanislav Cherchesov revealed Daler Kuzyaev, Fyodor Kudryashov, Georgi Dzhikiya and Aleksandr Golovin were all doubtful.

Cherchesov told a press conference: "The Finnish team is a strong one and they showed it (against Denmark).

"The game could have worked differently, but we knew from the beginning that they were a strong opponent.

"It was somewhat a surprise result, but the Finland players' attitude towards the game did not surprise me."

body check tags ::

amp_article__451461 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-06-15 14:21:46:
html db last update - 2021-06-15 13:48:05 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Markku Kanerva

Click here for more stories about Finland

Share this article now:
DC
Read Next:
Christian Eriksen 'in a good mood' after collapse
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Markku Kanerva Christian Eriksen Stanislav Cherchesov Yuri Zhirkov Daler Kuzyaev Fyodor Kudryashov Georgi Dzhikiya Aleksandr Golovin Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Christian Eriksen 'in a good mood' after collapse
Late Chelsea winner denied in pulsating four-goal Aston Villa draw

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341651374551953
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
9Chelsea33139116359448
10Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35137154855-746
11Bournemouth34129134960-1145
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton331111115254-244
13Fulham35127165155-443
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton35128153748-1136
16Brentford3598185260-835
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3567224877-2925
19Burnley3559213870-3224
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3537253497-6316
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Team News: Chelsea make three changes for Aston Villa game

1

TN

Chelsea 'ready to sell four home-grown stars this summer'

2

C'

Preview: Estrela Amadora vs. Farense - prediction, team news, lineups

3

PE

Bournemouth looking to equal club record against Brighton

4

BL

'It was a mistake, I apologise' - Amorim regrets holding talks with PL club

5

'W

Preview: West Ham vs. Liverpool - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PW

Barcelona 'planning lucrative new deal for Man United-linked centre-back'

7

B'

Arsenal 'leading Man United, Man City in race for Brighton attacker'

8

A'

Huddersfield all but relegated from Championship

9

HA

Liverpool 'losing patience with South American attacker'

10

L'


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .