Lehtovaara up for Spain challenge

Finland goalkeeper Jukka Lehtovaara has been content to play a supporting role so far, but as his side conclude their UEFA European Under-21 Championship campaign against Spain in Gothenburg he is ready to take the lead.

Future
Anssi Jaakkola profited from an injury to first-choice custodian Tomi Maanoja to earn the No1 jersey for these finals, but he will hand it over to Lehtovaara – one year his junior – as coach Markku Kanerva looks towards qualifying for the 2011 championship. Kanerva's side have only pride to play for in their last Group B fixture and Lehtovaara is likely to be just one of four players born in 1988 or later likely to feature at Gamla Ullevi.

Treatment
The 21-year-old says he is "really looking forward" to making his competitive debut having looked on nervously as Jaakkola – his room-mate in Sweden – received treatment after being fouled by Germany's Marko Marin in the first half of Thursday's 2-0 defeat. "Luckily I didn't have to go on as it's never easy to go on as a substitute goalkeeper without a warm-up," he said. "Now I know I'm playing I will enjoy it more."

'No problem'
Lehtovaara, a regular for FC TPS Turku who was nominated for the Veikkausliiga Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2007, says "it's been no problem at all" only being a squad member thus far. "I've been trying to be as supportive and helpful to Anssi as possible. It's much more difficult to sit on the bench with your club as here you're in it together, representing your country. There's an excellent team spirit and I'm enjoying it."

Based in Spain
Lehtovaara was joined at the press conference on the eve of the match by Teemu Pukki, the youngest member of the squad and another expected to play a lead role in Finland's attempts to reach the 2011 finals from a testing qualifying group which includes Spain, the Netherlands and Poland. "I've been looking forward to this game as it's the biggest for me personally, but they're all special," said the 19-year-old, who plays his club football for Sevilla FC.

'Great choice'
Pukki is arguably Finland's most talented young player and won his first full cap against Japan in February before he had played for the U21s. Here in Sweden he has impressed from the bench in cameo roles against England and Germany, and would no doubt relish the opportunity to line up against Sevilla team-mate Diego Capel on Monday. How has his January 2008 move influenced his game? "There are no single things I can point to but overall it has made me a better player," he said. "It's been a great choice for me and I'm very happy."