Finland’s call on Viljami Sinisalo vs Netherlands comes back to bite them, as Virgil van Dijk shines

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Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo could be watching the 2026 World Cup from home next summer.

Finland’s chances of booking their 2026 World Cup final ticket now look bleak, despite Jacob Friis’s side beating Lithuania 2-1 on Thursday evening.

Sinisalo started that match and helped his side to a crucial win, but just like on the domestic stage, he probably deserves more first-team minutes.

That’s because on Sunday evening, Finland suffered a 4-0 defeat to the Netherlands, with Celtic hero Virgil van Dijk getting on the scoresheet, as Sinisalo watched on from the bench.

• READ MORE: Meet Viljami Sinisalo, Celtic’s long-term successor to Kasper Schmeichel

Viljami Sinisalo axed for Finland’s defeat to the Netherlands

Despite Sinisalo’s encouraging performance against Lithuania, the Celtic man was axed for the Netherlands game, and it proved to be costly.

After 38 minutes, the game was done and dusted because the Dutch had scored four, with Aston Villa’s Donny Malen, van Dijk, Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo all getting on the scoresheet

In the end, the call to axe Sinisalo came back to bite Finland in the back, as they conceded four, and it’s now unlikely they will be travelling to America, Canada and Mexico next summer.

Sinisalo and Finland are looking for a miracle

There is one more international break before the end of the year, as Sinisalo’s side have one game remaining in Group G.

Finland are sitting third in the table, with top spot securing an automatic ticket, and second place going into a play-off.

Second-placed Poland are three points ahead, with a game in hand, as they play Malta and the Netherlands next month.

Just one more win for Poland will mean that Sinisalo will have a free summer in 2026, but as many Celtic fans know, he has a bright future and will become Kasper Schmeichel’s long-term replacement.