Raitala Set To Win 53rd Finnish Cap

Jukka Raitala rises for a header in Finland’s 2-0 Nations League win over Bulgaria on Sunday.Jukka Raitala (32) is set to win his 53rd cap for Finland when they take on Ireland tomorrow in the refurbished Helsinki Olympic Stadium.

The Finns are a point behind their conquerors Wales, in a tight group which has seen only seven goals scored (three by the Finns) in six matches at the halfway stage.

Both nations find goals a rare commodity so a low scoring draw or narrow victory either way has to be the call. The Irish also have the disappointment of Euros plays-off elimination at the hands of Slovakia to get over, so the Finns probably start as slight favourites. Last month Finland won the Dublin…