The Estonian women’s national team will host the Bulgarian women’s national team today in their second UEFA Nations League C match. The match will take place at the A. Le Coq Arena and begin at 19:00 Baltic time.
In their opening game of the Nations League campaign in February, Estonia lost 1-3 to Israel, with 20-year-old Katrin Kirpu scoring the only goal. Bulgaria also lost to Israel with the same scoreline in their first match of this campaign.
Manager Aleksandra Ševoldajeva expressed her expectations for an intense battle against Bulgaria during a pre-match press conference. “We need to quickly adapt to game situations and try to control them. There will definitely be a lot of struggle for open balls and counterattacks. We have strengths that can make us dangerous, but we must remain disciplined to capitalize on them,” she said.
This will be the first match of the season on natural grass for most players on the Estonian women’s national team, which could pose a challenge as they transition to this surface in the spring. However, the coach remains confident. “The pitch is in as good a condition as it can be right now, and the opportunity to train on grass in Estonia is already a significant advantage,” noted Ševoldajeva.
Since the previous international window in February, the squad has undergone a few changes. FC Tallinn Flora midfielder Mari Liis Lillemäe has returned to the national team, as has 28-year-old Anett Vilipuu. Forward Emma Treiberg is also included but is not fully fit, and according to the manager, she will likely be out of the squad for today’s game.
The two nations have previously met only once, in 2006, when Bulgaria defeated Estonia 5-0. Nearly 19 years later, these teams will face each other again.
The game at the A. Le Coq Arena is set to start at 19:00 and will be broadcast live on the Soccernet.ee YouTube account.
Estonia WNT squad for the April international window:
Goalkeeper
Victoria Vihman (20) – Tallinna FC Flora
Katarina Elisabeth Käpa (19) – Tallinna FC Flora
Roberta Jürna (19) – JK Tallinna Kalev
Defender
Inna Kiss-Zlidnis (34) – Budafoki LC (HUN)
Kelly Rosen (29) – Tallinna FC Flora
Siret Räämet (25) – LASK (AUT)
Rahel Repkin (26) – IFK Värnamo (SWE)
Annegret Kala (18) – Tartu JK Tammeka
Eva-Maria Niit (23) – Tallinna FC Flora
Lisette Tammik (26) – Tallinna FC Flora
Maris Liis Lilemäe (24) – Tallinna FC Flora
Liisa Merisalu (23) – FC Thy-Thisted (DEN)
Jaanika Volkov (20) – LASK (AUT)
Katrin Kirpu (20) – Aland United (FIN)
Anette Salei (19) – JK Tabasalu
Anett Vilipuu (28) – JK Tallinna Kalev
Liselle Palts (19) – Tallinna FC Flora
Helina Tarkmeel (19) – Tallinna FC Flora
Loviise Männiste (17) – FC Elva
Forward
Vlada Kubassova (29) – Ferencvaros (HUN)
Kristina Teern (20) – LASK (AUT)
Katriin Saulus (21) – Saku Sporting
Emma Treiberg (24) – Saku Sporting