Lawrence Smith is expected to get the starting nod from coach Petri Vuorinen as VPS head inland to Kuopio to take on 12th place KuPS at the Magnum Areena on Sunday evening. Click to continue reading...

Veikkausliiga heads north today, with long journeys deep into the countryside for HJK and Tampere United. RoPS, KuPS and VPS all have nice grounds but terrible pitches, and the difficulty of getting results there has been evident in recent seasons, with VPS acting as a bit of a bogey side for TamU and KuPS getting a memorable 3-2 win against HJK late last season to help them to a play-off spot.

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The preview of the sxth round should take many forms, the first one being a homage to Pasi Rautiainen. This Monday's match between Honka and TPS in Tapiola turned into something of a media event, with most of the Finnish under-21 squad presented with roses for their achievement in failing to win a single game or point, and scoring a solitary penalty during their three matches in Sweden.

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Watching Tampere United struggle to a single goal victory over JJK at Ratina yesterday, it occurred to me just how astonishing it is that anyone watches Finnish football. The first half was enjoyably predictable, as TamU attacked and JJk attempted to string a few passes together. JJK's South Korean striker Nam was brought off injured, and someone curled a shot against the bar for the Jyväskyläns (it could very possibly have been Koskela), and Rafinha got the winner when Sinisalo's headed past his own keeper, but overall it was a pretty run of the mill Veikkausliiga match.

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Last night, a great night from brand new KuPS signing Dickson Nwakaeme helped KuPS to a 3-0 win over RoPS, while TamU did exactly what was needed and overcame JJK with the scoreline 1-0. A more detailed round-up is on the way once the round is completed, but for now we are taking a look at today's games

FC Inter (7th) FC Lahti (9th), Sunday 6:30 PM

As the league table indicates, both sides are underperforming.

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Sorry for the recent silence as far as NFN's Finland section is concerned. If you're wondering why we're so quiet over the U21 European Championships, we have a simple explanation: Egan is following the tournament in Sweden as it unfolds, and is covering the proceedings for ESPN Soccernet. Meanwhile, I will treat you to a Veikkausliiga preview.

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Veikkausliiga is kind of in the middle of a break because of the U21 European Championships. "Kind of" here means that in the public view, the league is on a break, but at the same time some fixtures are being played. A good way to get rid of spectators, I have to say.

Last night, MYPA took a 2-0 away win at KuPS.

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We apologise for being unable to write a preview of last night's games, but here's an extended round-up to ease the pain.

MYPA - VPS 0-2

I can't help gloryhunting. VPS took a third consecutive win and I just have to support them. If I didn't, I would be scared by them.

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FC Inter - VPS

I am just about to hop on the VPS bandwagon. They scored two goals against RoPS on Sunday, a rare treat for their fans, and rumours are circulating that the central market place in Vaasa has already been booked for VPS' title celebrations in October.

Still, Inter are too strong for the Ostrobothnian side.

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It's not April Fools' Day, and I'm not kidding for any other reason either. See for yourself. Tony Björk found the net on the 12th minute and Antonio Inutile doubled the lead 11 minutes later. The two goals were enough to leave RoPS all alone in the relegation spot, and anger the fans. A thread demanding the resignation of CEO Jouko Kiistala was soon opened on Finland's biggest football message board, and the fans might have a point.

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TPS - IFK Mariehamn

TPS basically have the edge in this game, but it all depends on how they play. If they build on last week's win over VPS and produce another confident display, they should be able to win the game, but if they are inefficient and start pushing it, the game will turn out much more difficult, even more so as IFK Mariehamn really know how to play against "better" teams.

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JJK v HJK, Sunday 6:30pm

This is a tough one to predict. As ever, it all depends on Muurinen's team selection, and the choice between the quick and mobile strikers or the less mobile Mäkelä. He played Mäkelä in the last game, and they got a disappointing draw against Honka, so maybe he will go with a Popovitch-Parikka combination for the JJK game.

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HJK v IFK Mariehamn, Wednesday 6:30pm

This is, somewhat surprisingly, a top of the table clash. IFK have already beaten last season's champions, drawn with one of the favourites for this season, and had a regulation win over wooden spoon-chasers KuPS. This puts them level on points with HJK, who dropped their two points at home to draw specialists TPS.

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FC Haka 1 HJK 2

Highlights

MyPa 4 Tampere United 1

Highlights

Inter Turku 1 FF Jaro 0

Highlights

IFK Mariehman 3 KuPS 0

Highlights

FC Lahti 4 RoPS 1

Highlights

The all new Tehttaan kenttä is quite an experience.

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Haka v HJK

This is Finland's classico, the game between the historical heavyweights with more titles between them than they know what to do with. It's also Haka's first home game, Sedu Koskinen's first chance to bring the magic of a summer of music festivals and family-friendly entertainment to Tehtaan Kenttä.

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On Wednesday 23rd April, Espanyol asserted their intention of survival in the Spanish Primera Division by overcoming fellow relegation-threatened Sporting Gijon to rise within one point of the safe haven which is 17th position. Across the Atlantic, Toronto FC defeated New York Red Bulls to secure their second victory of the Major League Soccer season. Click to continue reading...

The second round of games, similarly to the first, shrank a bit because newly promoted JJK joined the already too long list of teams who had to cancel their opening fixture. VPS and Haka kicked off the round yesterday, with the latter snapping a 1-0 away win thanks to a goal from Pietari Holopainen.

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The second round of games, similarly to the first, shrank a bit because newly promoted JJK joined the already too long list of teams who had to cancel their opening fixture. VPS and Haka kicked off the round yesterday, with the latter snapping a 1-0 away win thanks to a goal from Pietari Holopainen.

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TPS 1 Haka 2

A surprising result at Kupittaa, where TPS ensured that their game at HJK on Thursday will take on a new significance. A defeat there, and it will be hard for coach Rautiainen to avoid a mini-crisis at least. 'New coach, same old TPS' was the headline in Hufvudstadsbladet, while Turun Sanomat went for a more measured 'TPS punished at corners'.

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TPS 1 Haka 2

A surprising result at Kupittaa, where TPS ensured that their game at HJK on Thursday will take on a new significance. A defeat there, and it will be hard for coach Rautiainen to avoid a mini-crisis at least. 'New coach, same old TPS' was the headline in Hufvudstadsbladet, while Turun Sanomat went for a more measured 'TPS punished at corners'.

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TPS 1 Haka 2

A surprising result at Kupittaa, where TPS ensured that their game at HJK on Thursday will take on a new significance. A defeat there, and it will be hard for coach Rautiainen to avoid a mini-crisis at least. 'New coach, same old TPS' was the headline in Hufvudstadsbladet, while Turun Sanomat went for a more measured 'TPS punished at corners'.

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Veikkausliiga announced their hoped-for attendance figures yesterday, and they seem to be grounded in as much reality as the budgets. Clubs are hoping for an increase in their attendances that may be difficult to achieve with current facilities, as well as the cold, hard fact that most clubs will be unsuccessful in most seasons.

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Veikkausliiga announced their hoped-for attendance figures yesterday, and they seem to be grounded in as much reality as the budgets. Clubs are hoping for an increase in their attendances that may be difficult to achieve with current facilities, as well as the cold, hard fact that most clubs will be unsuccessful in most seasons.

Click to continue reading...

Veikkausliiga announced their hoped-for attendance figures yesterday, and they seem to be grounded in as much reality as the budgets. Clubs are hoping for an increase in their attendances that may be difficult to achieve with current facilities, as well as the cold, hard fact that most clubs will be unsuccessful in most seasons.

Click to continue reading...

As this opening round of Veikkausliiga has been decimated by pitch related postponements, this preview is dedicated to the two men who have actually done quite a lot to get playable pitches in Finland. Harkimo was instrumental in the construction of Finnair Stadium in Töölö, before selling his stake in the ground andwinding up Jokerit's football club, while Håkans played a similar role in the construction of Veritas Stadium in Kupittaa.

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As this opening round of Veikkausliiga has been decimated by pitch related postponements, this preview is dedicated to the two men who have actually done quite a lot to get playable pitches in Finland. Harkimo was instrumental in the construction of Finnair Stadium in Töölö, before selling his stake in the ground andwinding up Jokerit's football club, while Håkans played a similar role in the construction of Veritas Stadium in Kupittaa.

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As this opening round of Veikkausliiga has been decimated by pitch related postponements, this preview is dedicated to the two men who have actually done quite a lot to get playable pitches in Finland. Harkimo was instrumental in the construction of Finnair Stadium in Töölö, before selling his stake in the ground andwinding up Jokerit's football club, while Håkans played a similar role in the construction of Veritas Stadium in Kupittaa.

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In: Jukka-Pekka Tuomanen, Christian Sund, Kim Hyun Kwan, Toni Koskela (until the end of June)

Out: Babatunde Wusu, Juha Veijonen, Marko Kivilä, Ady

Coach: Ville Priha

Claimed playing budget: €470,000

Egan says: The newly promoted Jyväskylä side have kept faith with the squad that won Ykkönen in 2008, by and large.

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In: Jukka-Pekka Tuomanen, Christian Sund, Kim Hyun Kwan, Toni Koskela (until the end of June)

Out: Babatunde Wusu, Juha Veijonen, Marko Kivilä, Ady

Coach: Ville Priha

Claimed playing budget: €470,000

Egan says: The newly promoted Jyväskylä side have kept faith with the squad that won Ykkönen in 2008, by and large.

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In: Tuomas Kuparinen, Betim Aliju, Patrice Ollo

Out: Antti Hynynen, Harri Ylönen, Jarno Kauhanen, Olli Kosonen, Hassan Sesay, Arto Lindberg, Adrian Webster, Petteri Pennanen, Jussi Kinnaslampi, Eschiabhi Okodugha

Coach: Kai Nyssönen

Claimed playing budget: €350,000

Egan says:KuPS could well struggle.

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In: Maxim Votinov, Antti Uimaniemi, Antti Kuismala, Tuomas Aho, Miikka Multaharju, Ville Oksanen, Niko Nakari, Mika Johansson, Ben Webster, Tuomo Könönen, Ady

Out: Aleksei Kangaskolkka, Janne Korhonen, Tuomas Kuparinen, Hugo Miranda, Kuami Agboh, Heikki Pulkkinen, Mohamed Fofana, Jani Luukkonen, Petru Racu, Eetu Muinonen, Tarmo Neemelo, Juho Nykänen

Coach: Janne Lindberg

Claimed playing budget: €700,000

Egan says:MyPa have suffered from erratic form in pre-season, and the loss of Fofana and Kangaskolkka has made them a much less classy team.

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TamU beat Honka 4-3 in an entertaining game that saw TamU stir up the title race once again. A few weeks ago they got a home win against Inter and now the other title candidate was treated to a defeat at their hands. FC Lahti - IFK Mariehamn A win would guarantee IFK Mariehamn a place in [...] Click to continue reading...

FC Inter - Honka 0-0 HJK - TPS 1-0 FC Lahti - Haka 1-0 KuPS - MyPa 1-4 VPS - Jaro 2-1 TamU - IFK Mariehamn 1-0 Highlights here, just click the "Veikkausliiga" link below the video. Inter and Honka couldn't spell out a difference between themselves in the long-awaited game between the two top teams in Turku. Click to continue reading...

Yle started their Veikkausliiga broadcasts today as FF Jaro played FC Lahti. The system in Finland is quite interesting: Urheilukanava broadcast the games from April to September, and Yle are only interested when the title is about to be won. The move from Urheilukanava to Yle may raise the number of people watching, as Urheilukanava is [. Click to continue reading...

KuPS - HJK 3-2 VPS - FC KooTeePee 1-1 MyPa - RoPS 1-0 FC Honka - TPS 2-2 TamU - FC Haka 1-1 FC Inter - FC Lahti 1-0 IFK Mariehamn - FF Jaro CANCELLED Inter have signed a great deal with the football gods. They won FC Lahti in front of over 8000 people willing to see Jari Litmanen in action, [...] Click to continue reading...