Mixu Paatelainen, head coach of national team of Finland, does not conceal that in tomorrow’s match against Georgia is planning to choose the defensive tactic, but he requires goals from team.
At today’s press conference, Paatelainen showed no emotions. You would not understand in what mood he meets the upcoming match. 46-year-old specialist was talking with respect about the Georgian football players and maybe this was caused by the recent draw with France (0:0).
Paatelainen answered some the questions of Georgian journalists, then he began speaking to the Finnish people in their native language.
- What do you think about Georgian team?
- Tomorrow we will play against the team of high level. Particularly highlight the defensive line. I think that their best player is Giorgi Loria, who will not play due to his disqualification. As we find out, Georgian team has other strong goalkeepers too. Georgian players play individually good. We should not make mistakes in defense.
- So, will you choose defensive tactic against Georgian team?
- Football has easy philosophy – you should attack or defend yourself. We are not going to be only in defense in tomorrow’s match. I think, that it will be a good match. I decided to make some changes in the start lineup after the match against Spain. We will play from defense and we must score.
- What will you say about Teemu Pukki, forward of Finland team, who joined “Celtic” Glasgow from “Schalke” Gelsenkirchen in the last transfer season?
- Pukki is very young, but he has a lot of experience. I am sure that his transfer will be good also for Finland. It is important for our players to be in such teams of high level.
- According to the reports of experts, Georgian team plays better than Finland team against European grand….
- Georgian team plays with defense tactic. To make this task successfully against France is very difficult, but the Georgians did their best against “Roosters”.
… After the press conference, we had an opportunity for 15 minutes to watch the training of Finland team. Unlike the coach, his apprentices were on good mood and they even joked.
Georgia – Finland match will begin on Tuesday at 21:00. This match will decide the 3rd place of our group.
Irakli Japaridze
