Home
Politics
Finland are used to success on ice (and snow), the men's national football team have waited 80 long years for this triumph. They had previously attempted to qualify for a Euros or World Cup 32 times before finally achieving their goal.
At full-time on Friday fans surged onto the pitch to salute their heroes as fireworks were immediately set off in the background.
Centred around prolific Norwich City striker Teemu Pukki, the generation of 2019 has now upstaged former greats such as Jari Litmanen and Sami Hyypia who never managed to reach a big tournament.
"We have dreamt of THIS since we first attended the 1938 WC Qualifiers," the team's official Twitter account posted.
"THE DREAM OF GENERATIONS has come true and next summer the whole Finland will party like NEVER before."
Finland are certain to end as runners-up behind Group J winners Italy even with an outstanding fixture to conclude in Greece on Monday. Their campaign started with a loss to the Italians but a run of wins over rivals Greece, Armenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina put them on their way.
Another loss to Italy and a collapse in Bosnia sparked some nerves but a superb 3-0 win over Armenia in October set up Friday's night of glory.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
