The host team, Team Denmark will be looking for a measure of revenge when they take the field against Finland Wednesday in the opening game of the 2017 IFAF NY European Junior Championship at Gentofte Stadium, just outside of Copenhagen.
Finland overwhelmed the Danes in the 2016 Nordic championship tournament 56-14 before going on to win the tournament.
But the powerful Finnish squad will be missing a few key players against Denmark in a bid to win this tournament and qualify for the world championships.
However, Finnish head coach Tero Virtanen is a firm believer in the “next man up” approach as he told salj.fi:
“We are above all a team. We play two games virtually every day. That’s why it’s important for us to have 45 players in our hands, each of whom can put the ball in any situation.”
The Finnish team will be led by quarterback Viljami Rautavuori from the Helsinki Wolverines and on defense by 6’2″ and 300 lb defensive lineman Aleksi Olavuo also from the Wolverines. Another standout is huge offensive lineman Mikko Rajala from the Turku Trojans. The 18-year old is 6’4″, 320 lbs.
On the other side of the field, Danish head coach Lars Carlsen is also missing one of his most talented players.
But he too will be looking to others to step up. He has a talented offensive line spearheaded by Kasper Kaufmann Sørensen from AaB 89ers, who can a bulldoze a path for running back Emil Neumann from the Søllerød Gold Diggers. Wide Receiver Thomas Ashworth, also from the Gold Diggers, needs to have a good game, for the hosts to have a chance.
Watch live here. Kickoff: Wednesday, July 12, 12 noon CEST (6a EDT)