Finland national under-21 football team

The Finland national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Finland.

Finland U21
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Pikkuhuuhkajat
(The Little Eagle-Owls)[1]
AssociationFootball Association of Finland
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachFinland Mika Lehkosuo
FIFA codeFIN
First colours
Second colours
First international
Finland Finland 1–3 Sweden 
(Vaasa, Finland; 11 August 1976)
Biggest win
 Finland 6–0 Armenia 
(Turku, Finland; 21 November 2023)
Biggest defeat
 England 8–1 Finland 
(Hull, England; 12 October 1977)
UEFA U-21 Championship
Appearances1 (first in 2009)
Best resultGroup stage (2009)

The team qualified for the UEFA Euro U21 Championship final tournament for the first time in 2009, under head coach Markku Kanerva. 15 years later, coached by Mika Lehkosuo, they qualified for the 2025 UEFA Euro U21 Championship tournament in Slovakia, for the second time in the nation's history, after defeating Norway in the qualification play-offs.

UEFA European Championship Record

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Finland U21 team before the match against Slovenia in Pori in 2011
 
Finland U21 team before the match against Austria in 2015
 
Finland U21 team after the win against Austria in 2022
Year Round Pld W D L GF GA Squad Qualification Campaign Pld W D L GF GA
1972-1976 UEFA Under-23 European championships
1972 did not qualify 1972 4 0 1 3 4 10
1974 1974 4 1 1 2 3 8
1976 1976 4 0 0 4 2 12
Since 1978 UEFA Under-21 European championships
1978 did not qualify 1978 4 0 0 4 2 14
1980 1980 4 0 1 3 2 7
1982 1982 6 0 1 5 4 10
1984 1984 6 1 3 2 5 8
1986 1986 6 1 4 1 6 6
1988 1988 6 2 1 3 8 11
1990 1990 6 1 1 4 4 13
1992 1992 6 2 0 4 7 13
  1994 1994 10 4 2 4 10 13
  1996 1996 8 5 1 2 12 16
  1998 1998 8 2 3 3 8 10
  2000 2000 8 3 4 1 9 7
  2002 2002 8 1 1 6 7 20
  2004 2004 8 3 2 3 11 9
  2006 2006 10 2 1 7 7 16
  2007 2007 2 0 0 2 1 10
  2009 Group stage 3 0 0 3 1 6 Squad 2009 (PO) 8 6 1 1 11 6
  2011 did not qualify 2011 8 3 1 4 11 4
  2013 2013 10 3 3 4 12 14
  2015 2015 10 4 4 2 17 10
  2017 2017 10 4 2 4 13 10
  2019 2019 10 2 3 5 13 21
   2021 2021 10 4 1 5 14 15
   2023 2023 10 6 1 3 18 13
  2025 Qualified 2025 (PO) 12 7 2 3 27 11

2009 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualification

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Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Finland 8 6 1 1 11 6 +5 19
  Denmark 8 5 1 2 13 4 +9 16
  Scotland 8 5 1 2 17 6 +11 16
  Slovenia 8 1 2 5 4 13 −9 5
  Lithuania 8 0 1 7 2 18 −16 1

2023 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualification

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification            
1   Norway 10 8 0 2 26 11 +15 24 Final tournament 3–2 3–1 3–1 2–1 3–0
2   Croatia 10 7 1 2 25 10 +15 22 Play-offs 3–2 2–3 0–0 2–0 2–0
3   Finland 10 6 1 3 18 13 +5 19 0–2 0–2 3–1 3–0 1–0
4   Austria 10 5 1 4 22 13 +9 16 2–1 1–3 2–3 6–0 2–0
5   Azerbaijan 10 2 1 7 12 24 −12 7 1–2 1–5 1–1 0–3 3–0
6   Estonia 10 0 0 10 0 32 −32 0 0–5 0–4 0–3 0–4 0–5
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

2025 UEFA Euro Under-21 qualification

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification            
1   Romania 10 7 1 2 23 10 +13 22 Final tournament 1–0 3–1 5–0 1–0 2–0
2   Finland 10 6 2 2 21 8 +13 20 Play-offs 2–0 1–2 4–1 2–1 6–0
3    Switzerland 10 5 3 2 21 12 +9 18 2–2 1–1 1–2 4–2 5–0
4   Albania 10 5 1 4 12 17 −5 16 3–2 0–0 1–3 2–0 1–0
5   Montenegro 10 2 1 7 8 19 −11 7 2–6 1–2 0–2 1–0 0–0
6   Armenia 10 0 2 8 2 21 −19 2 0–1 1–3 0–0 1–2 0–1
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Current squad

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The following players have been called up for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification play-offs matches against Norway on 15 and 19 November 2024, respectively.[2]

  • Caps and goals as of 19 November 2024 after the second play-offs match against   Norway.
  • Players in bold have been called up or have played at least one full international match with senior national team.
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Lucas Bergström (vice-captain) (2002-09-05) 5 September 2002 (age 22) 15 0   Chelsea
1GK Elmo Henriksson (2003-03-10) 10 March 2003 (age 21) 2 0   Sporting de Gijón
1GK Roope Paunio (2002-12-14) 14 December 2002 (age 22) 0 0   SJK
2DF Ville Koski (vice-captain) (2002-01-27) 27 January 2002 (age 22) 27 1   Istra 1961
2DF Kalle Wallius (2003-01-02) 2 January 2003 (age 21) 16 0   Start
2DF Tony Miettinen (2002-09-23) 23 September 2002 (age 22) 15 1   Odd
2DF Miska Ylitolva (2004-05-23) 23 May 2004 (age 20) 13 1   HJK
2DF Jussi Niska (2002-08-15) 15 August 2002 (age 22) 8 0   Inter Turku
2DF Rony Jansson (2004-01-10) 10 January 2004 (age 20) 9 0   Kalmar
2DF Tomas Galvez (2005-01-28) 28 January 2005 (age 19) 8 1   LASK
2DF Daniel Armstrong (2005-03-24) 24 March 2005 (age 19) 2 0   Atalanta U23
2DF Luka Kuittinen (2003-03-29) 29 March 2003 (age 21) 0 0   Inter Turku
3MF Naatan Skyttä (vice-captain) (2002-05-07) 7 May 2002 (age 22) 26 11   Dunkerque
3MF Adam Markhiyev (2002-03-17) 17 March 2002 (age 22) 23 0   RFS
3MF Casper Terho (2003-06-24) 24 June 2003 (age 21) 19 4   Union SG
3MF Otso Liimatta (2004-07-10) 10 July 2004 (age 20) 17 8   Famalicão
3MF Leo Walta (2003-06-24) 24 June 2003 (age 21) 12 2   Sirius
3MF Luka Hyryläinen (2004-08-25) 25 August 2004 (age 20) 8 0   SSV Ulm
3MF Liam Möller (2004-12-21) 21 December 2004 (age 20) 5 0   HJK
3MF Doni Arifi (2002-04-11) 11 April 2002 (age 22) 4 0   Ilves
4FW Juho Talvitie (2005-03-25) 25 March 2005 (age 19) 14 2   Heracles Almelo
4FW Henri Salomaa (2003-02-14) 14 February 2003 (age 21) 10 1   Casertana
4FW Topi Keskinen (2003-03-07) 7 March 2003 (age 21) 10 2   Aberdeen
4FW Teemu Hytönen (2002-08-15) 15 August 2002 (age 22) 2 0   Ilves

Recent callups

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The following players have also been called up to the Finland under-21 squad and remain eligible:

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Lasse Schulz (2003-03-29) 29 March 2003 (age 21) 4 0   Vendsyssel
GK Eetu Huuhtanen (2003-01-31) 31 January 2003 (age 21) 1 0   Inter Turku v.   Slovenia, 20 June 2023
GK Jasper Samooja (2003-07-21) 21 July 2003 (age 21) 1 0   Lecce v.   Lithuania, 9 June 2024
DF Robin Tihi (2002-03-16) 16 March 2002 (age 22) 22 0   Al Ahli v.   Albania, 13 October 2023
DF Miika Koskela (2003-07-12) 12 July 2003 (age 21) 6 0   Tromsø v.    Switzerland, 12 September 2023
DF Dario Naamo (2005-05-14) 14 May 2005 (age 19) 5 0   St. Pölten
DF Matti Peltola (2002-07-03) 3 July 2002 (age 22) 5 1   D.C. United
DF Otto Kemppainen (2003-10-27) 27 October 2003 (age 21) 3 0   AC Oulu v.   Romania, 17 October 2023
DF Oliver Pettersson (2003-05-13) 13 May 2003 (age 21) 3 0   Gnistan v.   Romania, 17 October 2023
DF Juho Lehtiranta (2002-09-27) 27 September 2002 (age 22) 2 0   KTP
DF Nikolas Talo (2003-03-24) 24 March 2003 (age 21) 1 0   Haka
DF Matias Kivikko Arraño (2003-12-05) 5 December 2003 (age 21) 0 0   Ilves v.    Switzerland, 12 September 2023
DF Arttu Lötjönen (2004-01-28) 28 January 2004 (age 20) 2 0   Sampdoria v.   Lithuania, 9 June 2024
DF Lucas Von Hellens (2005-03-05) 5 March 2005 (age 19) 2 0   Maritimo B v.   Lithuania, 9 June 2024
DF Elias Äijälä (2003-03-24) 24 March 2003 (age 21) 2 0   Gnistan v.   Lithuania, 9 June 2024
DF Samuli Miettinen (2004-06-16) 16 June 2004 (age 20) 1 0   KuPS
DF Joona Kuismala (2005-11-23) 23 November 2005 (age 19) 1 0   Elva v.   Lithuania, 9 June 2024

MF Santeri Väänänen (captain) (2002-01-01) 1 January 2002 (age 22) 19 1   Rosenborg
MF Niklas Pyyhtiä (2003-09-25) 25 September 2003 (age 21) 16 0   Bologna
MF Juho Kilo (2002-06-23) 23 June 2002 (age 22) 9 0   ADO Den Haag
MF Jere Kallinen (2002-01-10) 10 January 2002 (age 22) 5 0   AC Oulu
MF Jimi Tauriainen (2004-03-08) 8 March 2004 (age 20) 0 0   Chelsea
MF Otso Koskinen (2003-01-01) 1 January 2003 (age 21) 2 0   Lahti v.    Switzerland, 12 September 2023
MF Dren Terrnava (2005-05-21) 21 May 2005 (age 19) 1 0   Parma v.   Lithuania, 9 June 2024
MF Matias Ritari (2005-07-15) 15 July 2005 (age 19) 1 0   HJK Klubi 04 v.   Lithuania, 9 June 2024
MF Marlo Hyvönen (2005-05-02) 2 May 2005 (age 19) 2 0   HJK Klubi 04 v.   Lithuania, 9 June 2024
MF Ville Vuorinen (2005-02-21) 21 February 2005 (age 19) 2 0   HJK Klubi 04 v.   Lithuania, 9 June 2024
MF Daniel Rökman (2004-03-20) 20 March 2004 (age 20) 1 0   Inter Turku v.   Lithuania, 9 June 2024
MF Juho Ojanen (2002-01-02) 2 January 2002 (age 22) 2 0   Harvard v.   Estonia, 15 November 2021
FW Oiva Jukkola (2002-05-21) 21 May 2002 (age 22) 4 2   Ilves v.   Norway, 15 November 2024 INJ
FW Kai Meriluoto (2003-01-02) 2 January 2003 (age 21) 15 2   HJK v.   Lithuania, 9 June 2024
FW Eetu Mömmö (2002-05-04) 4 May 2002 (age 22) 14 2   SJK
FW Agon Sadiku (2003-03-10) 10 March 2003 (age 21) 10 2   Emmen v.   Romania, 17 October 2023
FW Roni Hudd (2005-01-20) 20 January 2005 (age 19) 2 1   HJK
FW Maksim Stjopin (2003-04-08) 8 April 2003 (age 21) 2 0   Ilves v.   Slovenia, 20 June 2023
FW Jonathan Muzinga (2002-11-10) 10 November 2002 (age 22) 1 0   KuPS v.    Switzerland, 12 September 2023
FW Onni Suutari (2003-04-29) 29 April 2003 (age 21) 2 0   AC Oulu v.   Lithuania, 9 June 2024
FW Danila Bulgakov (2005-01-20) 20 January 2005 (age 19) 2 0   Ilves v.   Lithuania, 9 June 2024
  • INJ = Withdrew due to an injury.

Coaching staff

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[3]

Position Name
Head coach   Mika Lehkosuo
Assistant coach   Gert Remmel
Assistant coach   Ramiro Muñoz
Goalkeeping coach   Eemeli Reponen
Conditioning coach   Janne Ukkonen

Past squads

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Pikkuhuuhkajat". Archived from the original on 2017-11-20. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  2. ^ "Pikkuhuuhkajat nimetty EM-jatkokarsintoihin Norjaa vastaan". 8 November 2024.
  3. ^ Valmennus ja joukkueenjohto