Thank you for joining me in this cracking Euros match!
As I said earlier this isn’t the only game on today and our live blog of Germany v Denmark is underway. Gregg Bakowski will be seeing you through that one which you can catch here:
Or if you want to recap the action of the match we have just witnessed, have a read of Sid Lowe’s report here:
I love a good stat and Zach has emailed in to comment on the one I shared earlier.
I posted a tweet which suggested Arsenal players had scored 66% of the Euro 2022 goals so far.
Zach has corrected the stat and added a new one after that match, saying: “Arsenal (who had actually scored 50% of the tournament’s goals) are now barely above 25%”
I wonder which club will come out on top? You have to think Barcelona will be up there.
Ah there won’t be any on air reaction from either camps as the BBC have shut down their coverage but I shall hunt social media for reaction!
Also let me know your thoughts! What did you make of the match? Email me or send a tweet!
After every goal was scored the Spanish team ran over to where their injured star Alexia Putellas, who was hopping on one leg to join in the celebrations.
They have managed to win without her, will they continue it throughout the tournament? Let me know your thoughts.
Full-time: Spain 4-1 Finland
That penalty was drilled into the top corner in a dream comeback for Spain.
Despite hope being ignited in the first minute for Finland after Sallstrom scored, Finland fell to the might of Spain.
It was not a textbook Spanish performance with their defence looking shaky at times. But their attack was slick with over 25 shots hammered at Korpela.
But the ones that made the difference were from Bonmati, Paredes, L Garcia and Caldentey.
Spain will still be firm favourites but they’ve displayed some of their weaknesses this evening.
PENALTY! Spain 4-1 Finland (Caldentey, 90+4)
Wow! A risky challenge leads to a fairytale ending to Spain’s Euros opener.
Updated
90 min: Wow that was almost a fourth with Cardona’s header nearly getting the better of Korpela. The keeper does just enough to keep it out and again she is employed with another shot coming at her.
Another free kick for Spain here as three minutes are added.
87 min: More Spanish changes as Garcia comes off for Pina.
I’d like to apologise to Lucia Garcia as I said earlier it was Sheila Garcia, after making the comment about being as a replacement.
S Garcia has also been impressive but it was L Garcia who got the goal.
85 min: Spain’s unbeaten record against Finland looks as though it will be maintained, a crushing blow to Finland who started so well.
Some Finalnd chances as Summanen and Franssi come off for Ahtinen and Danielsson.
82 min: There’s a yellow card shown for Alanen for a foul on Garcia.
Spain are looking to see this one out as they retain even more possession. So far they have had 68% in this match.
79 min: Garcia may have earned herself a starting shirt for the next match, she has been insane since being introduced.
16,819 in attendance for the match!
More Spanish subs as Del Castillo and Cardona comes on for Bonmati and Gonzalez.
76 min: Leon drilled in a free kick, in a controversial decision by the ref with some saying Finland should have had the ball, and Garcia’s header sent it home.
That should be the result sewn up here but maybe the question should be how many more will Spain score?
GOAL! Spain 3-1 Finland (Garcia, 74')
What a header! Guided straight home.
Updated
74 min: Did you guess there’s another Spain corner? Well you were correct.
Leon thunders it in but Gonzalez again misses with her header going wide.
Finland have been well tempered in defence, it is just the sheer amount of shots coming in which have seen the impressive goals scored.
71 min: Finland are not down and out here, this time Franssi getting behind the Spanish defence but it ends in a goal kick.
It feels whoever scores the next goal will be in the drivers seat here, despite Spain’s dominance.
69 min: Sallstrom is through once more but she is closed down by two Spanish defenders, resulting in a goal kick.
Gonzalez then has another great shot but her attempt grazes across goal.
66 min: Paredes walking the line again with a strong tackle, brave from the captain who is already on a yellow.
Finland make a change as Kuikka comes on for Hyyrynen.
64 min: Finland win a free kick in their half and Hyyrynen takes.
But it ends in Spain winning a free kick! Tempers are starting to flare!
62 min: Garcia has a huge moment in her first minute on the pitch! Her shot is just saved by the keeper! What an introduction.
So yes there is another Spanish corner. It pinballs and Batlle’s shot goes out of play. Those replacements are injecting more life into this Spanish side.
60 min: So half an hour to go in this one and Finland are hanging on here.
If they can keep them out and find a moment of brilliance they could bag a point.
Spanish changes here as Aleixandri and Garcia come on.
58 min: Spain are, unsurprisingly, still battering the Finnish goal. No way through in the second half yet.
Dan has got in touch with some more Spanish vocab which has blown my mind!
He wrote: “Plenty of word for goalie in Spanish as well!
“Portero, Arquero (more common in Latin America) Guardameta
“And perhaps my favorite...cancerbero which is actually a Greek mythological dog with three heads that guarded the doors of hell. Take that Finland!”
I’m guessing he is a Spanish fan ...
55 min: Patient build-up play is in action from Spain here but Finland are on the counter. Paredes gets the first yellow with a foul on Sallastrom.
The free kick, Summanen the taker, but it’s initially handled really well from Spain. They then manage to get away to counter, Batlle just kept running and Korpela had to make a great save to stop the United star.
53 min: A Finland free kick was drilled in by Hyyrynen and Summanen got a foot to it, it is saved by Panos.
Those chances will be far and few between and they need to capitalise.
They are showing fight here, to get a point would be amazing for the team.
50 min: Korpela is needed to make another save as Engman is shown on screen, she is crying so I’m hoping the injury which saw her come off isn’t a long-term one.
Another Spain corner, number 11! It’s dealt with well and the threat is temporarily thwarted.
47 min: Spain start just as they finished with some superb passing, it’s like watching honey drip from a spoon.
A long ball ends in a Finnish goal kick, who need to find a goal to find momentum here.
Back underway! Spain 2-1 Finland
So will Spain continue to batter Finland’s defence or can the underdogs pull off the shock?
Sainio is on for Engman for Finland in the only change.
We had some chat around kit earlier and Kari has joined in.
He said via email: “This version of the Finland kit, with the off-center blue cross, is actually only about two years old. Before that the top was white, with some blue detailing.
“So this is a rare example of a successfully redesigned football kit. I hope the Finnish FA have the good sense not to mess with it, because it’s great.”
Andrew has got in touch via email to join in on our language chat.
He has blown my mind with the amount of words Spain have for ‘the ball’. He said: “The ball can be “el esférico” (the spherical object), “el balón” (the ball), “el cuero” (the leather object), or “la pelota” (the ball, again).”
And Anna has said: “You wanted to know what the Finnish word for a corner was? Kulma is the answer and now that I think about it, it also sounds very cornery with those consonants.
“Been very proud of our Helmarit whose nickname comes from the Finnish helmipöllö (Boreal Owl). Those runs from Sällström look very dangerous, let’s see what happens next half!”
Half-time: Spain 2-1 Finland
More shots came in during the one minute added but Spain head into the break 2-1 up.
Sallstrom made some Spanish fans sweat in the first minute but they have come romping back to go ahead.
Can they hold onto this? We will shortly find out.
45 min: Well what do Finland do here? They had a perfect start but Spain are building here which is scary because they look flawless and they have more gears to go through!
We have our answer for what corner is in Finnish!
Marja has got in touch and said it is kulma.
43 min: Bonmati was in a great position in the box, making a late run, and heads home.
Korpela just watched it drift into goal.
The star immediately ran over to celebrate with Putellas, who hobbles back to her seat.
GOAL! Spain 2-1 Finland (Bonmati, 41)
Wow, oh wow! What a way to fight back!
Updated
39 min: Spain are still pressing for a second goal here, they are keen to be ahead before half-time.
Another corner comes in but Gonzalez hits it out of play.
The half-time talks for both teams would be so interesting to listen into.
36 min: Finland have a great spell of ball but Spain’s defence are wise to their play now, though a little too open. Finland are getting a lot of space up front.
Spain are dealing with the threats and the counter-attacks are lethal. Guerrero makes a great shot but Korpela does well to save. Cracking battle so far!
Updated
33 min: Sallstrom has been a bright star for Finland! A great opening goal and she is constantly being hounded by Spain’s defence after they were caught napping.
Spain continue to batter the Finland defence so I thought it would be fitting to add in another reader comment.
Paulo has emailed and said: “If you want to sprinkle some Spanish into your commentary then you should know that the Spanish for corner is “corner”.
“Not sure what it is in Finnish.”
Any Finland fans want to get in touch and let me know?
30 min: Spain are just so good aren’t they? Their passing is slick and accurate and after that early goal they have settled into this.
Putellas is watching on here.
27 min: I think Spain have had 10 corners and the Finnish defence finally crumbles. Paredes came storming into the box and whacks a header home!
Will Finland be able to hold onto the draw, or reclaim the lead? The far more likely outcome is Spain are going to find yet another gear here.
GOAL! Spain 1-1 Finland (Paredas, 26)
We all knew it was coming, just took a bit of time! And many, many corners.
Updated
24 min: Spain continue to batter the Finnish defence but still they frustrate Jorge Vilda’s side.
Korpela scooped up the last attempt and Finland need to get some possession going to take a hold of this match.
22 min: Caldentey pulls the trigger on another ball into the box and wins yet another corner. The Finnish defence head away for another set-piece and this time Spain take it short.
Batlle feeds Bonmati but her shot is block, yep another corner!
Spain think they have a goal here but it’s been pulled back as the ball went out of play! Another corner to come but it goes out of play.
You can come out from behind the sofa now Finnish fans, well for now
19 min: I think there are more Finnish fans in Milton Keynes because any decision going against their team at the moment is met with a barrage of boos.
Spain come forward again but Pikkujamsa blocks a shot but concedes a corner. The ball is drilled in but Korpela punches away, it comes back in but the keeper deals with it again.
Spain are shifting into another gear here, can Finland’s defence keep up?
16 min: Gonzalez has a great shot, bending the ball but Korpela reads it well to save. The goalkeeper is being made to work in these early stages.
Finland may have a formation of two forwards but Sallstrom is doing the work of two! She screams for the ball and is almost in once again. The pass to her has too much on it and it results in a goal kick.
Boos then ring around the stadium as the ref does not give a free kick after Sallstrom is chopped down.
13 min: Spain’s attack seems slightly desperate at the moment, they need to maybe make one or two more passes and then strike.
And they need to stop napping at the back! a fabulous pass came in which caught the defenders sleeping and Engmen almost replicates Sallstrom’s goal! This is going to be an absolute cracker.
A fun fact, the goal is only the second ever scored in the first minute of a women’s Euros. Not bad for the underdogs.
10 min: Finland’s defence so far has been good but the question will be if they can keep this up over 90 minutes.
They will be thrilled to be going ahead and it would fantastic for them if they can come away with at least a point!
Peter has emailed and cracked me up with a great pun, writing: “Wow, what a Finnish!”
8 min: Sallstrom was fed the ball once again from the set-piece but this time she misses the target.
After a long build-up play Spain’s Caldentey gets a long range shot away but Korpela saves well. They just keep coming though, striving to cancel out that early goal but so far there is no way through.
6 min: Spain are trying to come back with a vengeance as they win another corner.
The ball pinballed around the box but it was cleared, it came back in but grazed the front of goal. Paredas is then lucky to not get a yellow for a foul as she concedes a free kick.
Charles has sent me an email and said: “Good to see two international teams wearing their classic strips. Finland looking especially smart.
“You do have to wonder about the various arbitrary designs and colours that England have to put up with – the orange third strip only the most recent and egregious.”
What do you think of his comments? Let me know by email or Twitter.
4 min: Westerlund concedes a corner with a great block on Bonmati.
The ball was taken short but Gonzalez’ shot sails out of play. I am still reeling from that shock start, the Finnish fans in the stadium must be going bonkers!
2 min: What a start for the underdogs.
A great ball was sent through to Sallstrom who got the better of Panos to slot it in the bottom left corner.
I honestly cannot believe it! My hands went on my head with my mouth wide open! Wow.
Updated
GOAL! Spain 0-1 Finland (Sallstrom, 1')
How about this! My mouth is wide open
Kick-off! Spain 0-0 Finland
Here we go!
Will Spain live up to the favourites tag or will Finland cause an upset?
Here come the anthems!
The fans are raring to go here, the roar when the player came out and the anthems sand out loudly.
They are ready to go, are you?
Kári has got in touch via email and said: “As I’m currently self-isolating with Covid, I’m not enjoying any days outside right now, sunny or otherwise.
“But I’m getting my vicarious thrills from seeing videos online of Finnish fans marching to the stadium.”
I hope you’re okay and get well soon! It’s great you have all the Euros coverage to watch while you isolate.
And yes those videos are amazing, the travelling fans have come in their waves!
Spain v Finland is not the only Euro 2022 match on today. Once the two battle it out in Group B the other two teams in the group go head-to-head.
Germany take on Denmark and both teams can be dark horses in the competition. They aren’t among those listed as favourites but they are both capable of taking the crown.
The tournament is well and truly underway and it’s difficult to contain my excitement!
Kick-off in the first fixture just 10 minutes away!
Finland are not going to underestimate Spain just because they have lost their star goalscorer, Alexia Putellas.
Barcelona’s Putellas is out with an ACL injury but Finnish goalkeeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela says they are approaching the game exactly the same.
“I feel sorry for Alexia Putellas – it must be hard to get injured on the eve of the tournament. However, Spain will find a replacement for her and her injury does not change our preparations in any way.”
There has been more crushing injury news revealed today as Northern Ireland’s Simone Magill has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a knee injury.
She picked up the problem in her team’s 4-1 defeat to Norway last night. I was at St Mary’s Stadium and it was heartbreaking to see her limping off in tears.
Speedy recovery Simone!
UEFA Women’s Euro 2022: injury update
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) July 8, 2022
A fun fact from the tournament so far...
66% of the goals at #WEURO2022 have been scored by Arsenal players….
— Tim Stillman (@Stillberto) July 7, 2022
I was going to say it is perfect weather for a football match but when I went out for a coffee earlier it was baking!
It is around 27 degrees in Milton Keynes, where the match is being played, so the players are in for a hot one!
Let me know how you have spent this sunny day and how you are finding Euro 2022 so far. You can reach me on Twitter, @rendellx, or email me.
The team news is in and both sides have named strong teams.
Spain have Manchester United’s Ona Batlle in the starting line-up and she will begin alongside Manchester City’s summer signing Leila Ouahabi.
Spain starting XI: Panos; Batlle, Paredes, Leon, Ouahabi; Guijarro, Bonmati, Guerrero; Garcia, Gonzalez, Caldentey.
Finland, meanwhile, have a good tactical shape in a bid to thwart Spain’s attack. They have a 4, 4, 2 with Linda Sällström and Sanni Franssi the only two upfront.
Finland starting XI: Korpela; Hyyrynen, Westerlund, Pikkujamsa, Koivisto; Engman, Alanen, Summanen, Oling; Sällström, Franssi.
Preamble
Spain and Finland get their Euro 2022 campaigns underway as they face one another at 5pm BST this evening.
Spain are among the favourites to win the tournament but their odds have fallen after they lost two of their stars. Jennifer Hermoso and Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas have been ruled out due to knee injuries.
Putellas was heartbroken to have to withdraw from the squad just a day before it kicked off and it is a huge blow to Spain’s bid. But player Irene Paredes said despite the setback the team are raring to go.
“When they face adversity, all humans seek to overcome. We’re a resilient team and know what we have to do: play football,” Paredes said.
“Maybe more things have happened than normal but there are 23 of us, the moment has come and we’re ready, raring to go.”
Spain are the hot favourites to take the win over Finland but the opposition say they are ready for the challenge they will face.
Finland midfielder Emmi Alanen said: “We have studied Spain and how they play, both in defence and attack. They are very skilful individually and like to keep the ball a lot. We will face a tough challenge but we are ready for it.”
