Estonia women’s national football team will play their final two FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying group matches in June, facing Liechtenstein women’s national football team away from home on June 5 before hosting Bosnia and Herzegovina women’s national football team four days later in Pärnu.
Head coach Aleksandra Ševoldajeva has named a 24-player squad for the decisive matches, although Helina Tarkmeel, Emma Treiberg and Jaanika Volkov will miss out due to health-related issues. Treiberg a few days ago scored twice in the Estonian Women’s Cup final to help Saku Sporting win the trophy.
Ševoldajeva stressed that the team is approaching the qualifiers one match at a time. “We will look at the table after both matches, but the most positive thing is that everything is still in our own hands,” said the Estonia coach.
Estonia currently sit second in the qualifying group with seven points from four matches. The team has recorded two victories over Lithuania women’s national football team and Liechtenstein, a scoreless draw against Lithuania and a 1-3 defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia lead the group with nine points.
The away match against Liechtenstein will take place on Friday, June 5 at Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz, kicking off at 20:00 Estonian time. Estonia will then host Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday, June 9 at Pärnu Rannastaadion.
Among the more experienced names in the squad are captain Kelly Rosen, who has already earned 101 international caps, Hungarian-based striker Vlada Kubassova with 15 international goals, and Austria-based defender Siret Räämet.
The squad also includes several young prospects, including 16-year-old Anastasija Južaninova and 17-year-old Loviise Männiste.
A notable feature of the squad is the growing international representation among Estonian women footballers, with players currently based in Poland, Austria, Italy, Croatia, France, Switzerland and Hungary all included in the selection.
Estonian Women’s National Team Squad:
Goalkeepers
- Katarina Elisabeth Käpa (16.03.2006) – KKPK Medyk Konin (Poland) – 14 caps / 0 goals
- Victoria Vihman (05.08.2004) – Tallinna FC Flora – 2/0
- Liisa Liimets (04.04.2006) – Viimsi JK – 2/0
Defenders
- Kelly Rosen (23.11.1995) – Tallinna FC Flora – 101/1
- Siret Räämet (31.12.1999) – LASK (Austria) – 63/1
- Annegret Kala (03.05.2006) – Paide Linnanaiskond – 24/1
- Rahel Repkin (17.06.1998) – Paide Linnanaiskond – 22/0
- Kristiina Tullus (12.09.1998) – Tallinna FC Flora – 20/0
- Elisabet Polstjanova (01.03.2005) – Viimsi JK – 1/0
Midfielders
- Mari Liis Lillemäe (01.09.2000) – Catania FC (Italy) – 68/4
- Liisa Merisalu (15.01.2002) – Viimsi JK – 48/3
- Katrin Kirpu (09.10.2004) – ŽNK Agram (Croatia) – 29/3
- Anette Salei (28.09.2005) – US Colomiers Football (France) – 27/3
- Liselle Palts (02.12.2005) – Catania FC (Italy) – 14/1
- Loviise Männiste (24.02.2008) – Elva FC – 12/0
- Karola Purgats (06.04.2006) – Tallinna FC Flora – 12/0
- Lisandra Rannasto (13.01.2004) – Paide Linnanaiskond – 9/0
- Aleksandra Kelli (11.08.2006) – Paide Linnanaiskond – 3/0
- Anastasija Južaninova (05.04.2009) – Tallinna FC Flora – 2/0
Forwards
- Vlada Kubassova (23.08.1995) – Ferencvárosi TC (Hungary) – 85/15
- Lisette Tammik (14.10.1998) – Paide Linnanaiskond – 81/17
- Kristina Teern (13.11.2004) – Catania FC (Italy) – 24/3
- Katriin Saulus (05.07.2003) – Saku Sporting – 19/1
- Anželika Jotkina (10.09.2007) – FC Basel (Switzerland) – 4/0
