Finland looking to capitalise on home-court advantage to reach #EuroLeagueM finals

The organisers are confident that a sold-out AGCO Power Arena in Nokia will welcome the return #EuroLeagueM semi-final match featuring hosts Finland and their neighbours from Denmark on Wednesday, July 1. The winners of this contest will eventually play the Netherlands in home and away final matches. 

After their 3-1 win away from home this past Sunday in Odense, Finland improved their head-to-head record with Denmark to 33 wins in 39 matches. The Finns have won the last seven such matches in a row – and most recently lost to Denmark 24 years ago during the 2002 edition of the Nordic Championships. There is a lot at stake for Finland in this match – not only a place in European League finals, but also keeping alive their hopes of reaching the VNL next season – in a direct competition with the Dutchmen for that coveted spot. 

Finnish setter Fedor Ivanov will reach 100 caps with the national team on Wednesday in Nokia – a place associated with fond memories since this is where last year the Finns secured their place in the Final Four of the European Golden League with a win over Croatia. Finland and Denmark will meet again later this year in the pool phase of the CEV EuroVolley 2026 in Tampere. 

Petteri Tyynismaa, middle blocker of Finland: “We are in a pretty nice situation, having already won away, and now we get to play in front of our home crowd. It definitely will not be an easy place for Denmark – they seem like a team that thrives on good team spirit, so if we can use the home crowd to shut that down, we will already be in a strong position. We need to be ready from the very start. As we saw with the first leg in Odense, they have plenty of quality in their players as well. Personally, I am really looking forward to playing in front of our home fans again. I expect quite an entertaining match, and I hope for a lot of noise from the stands.”