The Estonian men’s national football team will begin its World Cup qualifying campaign in March with away matches against Israel and Moldova. Head coach Jürgen Henn has announced the squad for the upcoming games. Due to injuries, Karol Mets and Rocco Robert Shein have not been called up.
“Karol’s absence will undoubtedly challenge us. We need to find other players to fill his role. I am in constant communication with him to keep him involved in our plans, ensuring that his return during the summer window is as smooth as possible,” said Henn. Shein is also currently recovering from his injury and will not be able to join the national team at this time.
Potential debutants include Tanel Tammik and Dimitri Jepihhin, both of whom changed clubs during the winter transfer window. Tammik has joined reigning champions FCI Levadia from Tartu Tammeka and has already scored two goals as a first-team player in the opening rounds. Jepihhin moved from Paide Linnameeskonna to Trenčín in the Slovak Premier League, where he made his debut last weekend.
The national team will assemble on Sunday, March 16, and then travel to Hungary to prepare for their first World Cup qualifier of the year against Israel. This match will take place on Saturday, March 22, at the Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen. Three days later, on March 25, they will face the Moldovan national team in Chișinău.
Estonian National team for the upcoming games:
Goalkeepers
Karl Jakob Hein (13.04.2002) – Real Valladolid (ESP) 36/0
Matvei Igonen (02.10.1996) – Plovdivi Botev (BUL) 15/0
Karl Andre Vallner (28.02.1998) – Tallinna FCI Levadia 4/0
Defenders
Joonas Tamm (02.02.1992) – Plovdivi Botev (BUL) 64/4
Maksim Paskotši (19.01.2003) – Zürichi Grasshopper (SUI) 33/0
Märten Kuusk (05.04.1996) – GKS Katowice (POL) 33/0
Rasmus Peetson (03.05.1995) – Tallinna FCI Levadia 19/1
Michael Schjønning-Larsen (02.02.2001) – Tallinna FCI Levadia 8/0
Kristo Hussar (28.06.2002) – Tallinna FC Flora 4/0
Joseph Saliste (10.04.1995) – Paide Linnameeskond 4/0
Tanel Tammik (14.06.2002) – Tallinna FCI Levadia 0/0
Midfielders
Mattias Käit (29.06.1998) – FC Rapid (ROU) 56/8
Vlasiy Sinyavskiy (27.11.1996) – FC Slovacko (CZE) 39/1
Martin Miller (25.09.1997) – Paide Linnameeskond 37/2
Markus Poom (27.02.1999) – Tallinna FC Flora 29/0
Mihkel Ainsalu (08.03.1996) – Tallinna FCI Levadia 21/0
Markus Soomets (02.03.2000) – FC Den Bosch (NED) 15/0
Kevor Palumets (21.11.2002) – Podbrezova Železiarne (SVK) 10/1
Ioan Yakovlev (19.01.1998) – Panionios (GRE) 6/1
Patrik Kristal (12.11.2007) – FC Köln (GER) 2/0
Dimitri Jepihhin (28.10.2005) – AS Trencin (SVK) 0/0
Forwards
Henri Anier (17.12.1990) – Lee Man (HKG) 99/23
Rauno Sappinen (23.01.1996) – Tallinna FC Flora 55/12
Alex Matthias Tamm (24.07.2001) – Ljubljana Olimpija (SVN) 12/2
Robi Saarma (20.05.2001) – Paide Linnameeskond 5/0