Female footballer missed the national team match because the coach confused her with a 51-year-old former player.

Incorrect call-up of a former footballer to the Finland national team's match

During the UEFA Nations League match, the head coach of the Finnish women's national football team, Auli Saarinen, mistakenly called up a 51-year-old former national team footballer to play against Serbia. The coach confused the players and included Stina Ruushkanen instead of Nanne Ruushkanen in the squad. Due to this mistake, 23-year-old Nanne was unable to participate in the match, which ended in a 1:1 draw.

The mistake was noticed only after the deadline for submissions, so the younger Ruushkanen missed the women's Nations League match.

Stina Ruushkanen joked while commenting on her call-up to the national team that she could return to the national team if needed, having played two matches 29 years ago. 'I'm definitely ready if the call comes. Just yesterday I played in an amateur league match, so I feel good on the field,' she said.

Nanne was disappointed but took the news well under the circumstances, said the president of the Finnish Football Association, Auli Saarinen.

Group stage of the Europa League for Finland and Serbia

Finland finished second in the group of Division B of the Nations League and will play in the playoff matches for promotion to the elite. Serbia took first place in the group, leading the Finns by three points.

Recall that on June 3, the women's national team of Ukraine completed the group stage of the Nations League with an away match against Croatia.

The incorrect call-up of the former footballer to the Finnish national team's match resulted in Nanne Ruushkanen missing the match against Serbia, but Stina Ruushkanen joked that she is ready to help the Finnish national team on the field if needed, despite the long time since her last appearance for the national team. Finland and Serbia finished first and second in the Nations League group, preparing for playoff matches for the right to enter the elite.