Hosts keen to maintain momentum

His team may be safely through to the UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ quarter-finals as section winners, but Finland coach Michael Käld has no intention of giving eliminated Ukraine an easy ride in their third and final Group A fixture at Helsinki's Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

Winning momentum
The host nation became the first team to book their ticket to the last eight thanks to consecutive wins against Denmark and the Netherlands, with a 3 September trip to Turku ensured, and they have built up a momentum that Käld wishes to preserve. "This is a very important match for us because if we win this game we will go to Turku with good feelings," he told uefa.com. "It's always easier to go into the next game if you win the game before and we have so much energy and so many positive feelings that I want those feelings to stay within the team. We'll be giving 100 per cent and we also know that a lot of spectators will be here, so we want to give them a party."

Record crowd
A new Finnish attendance record for a women's international is expected to be set during the game, comfortably beating the 16,324 for the opening match against Denmark, with Käld's side bidding farewell to their fans in the capital until the final, and the assembled crowd can expect a strong lineup. "We have 22 players here and I know they're fit and ready to play, but if you have a player who's 'hot', I won't put them on the bench," he insisted. That said, defender Sanna Valkonen is carrying a knock and may be rested, along with winger Anna Westerlund, who is one booking away from suspension. "I always have to think about such things," added Käld.

Tytova injury
Conversely, Ukraine coach Anatoliy Kutsev is refusing even to contemplate squad rotation as his competition debutants attempt to bow out with their first points following losses to the Netherlands and Denmark. "This is European football," he explained. "We must showcase our talents; this is no place for experimenting. We'll be fielding all our key players." Defender Inessa Tytova misses out with a rib fracture, however.

'Attractive' match
The two teams have never met before in a senior women's – or men's – international, but Kutsev feels he knows what to expect. "We've watched Finland's two games and it should be an even contest. There are no secrets in modern football." He also predicted an entertaining encounter. "The number of spectators will help the players on both teams play attractive football. The games played by Finland in this stadium have been a true festival of football, but we'll do our best to spoil the party."