Niemi back for Finland

Calf injury
The Southampton FC keeper missed his country's UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifiers in June after suffering a calf problem in the FA Cup final defeat by Arsenal FC the previous month. The 31-year-old is now back to fitness and is joined in the squad by AJ Auxerre midfield player Teemu Tainio, who also missed out in the summer.

Coach confident
AZ Alkmaar defender Juha Reini is the third change from the previous squad having being sent off against Serbia and Montenegro in last October's qualifier in Belgrade. Finland coach Antti Muurinen said: "It's nice to have Juha Reini back. He has had a really tough year." Although conscious that there was still some time before the 20 August fixture against the Danes, Muurinen added: "At the moment everyone is fully fit and we will field a strong squad."

Still hopeful
Finland still have a chance of at least a play-off spot for next year's finals in Portugal. They are third in Group 9 with six points from six games. They are four points behind second-placed Italy, and visit leaders Wales on 10 September four days after a fixture in Azerbaijan.

Finland squad
Jääskeläinen, Niemi, Hyypiä, Kuivasto, Pasanen, Reini, Saarinen, Tihinen, Forssell, Johansson, Kolkka, Kopteff, Litmanen, Nurmela, Riihilahti, Tainio, Valakari , Väyrynen.