Teemu Pukki is hoping to upset the odds again as the Norwich City legend prepares for a Wembley clash against England tonight.
The Finnish international is back in the country for the first time since departing Carrow Road in May 2023, following a hugely successful spell in Norfolk that saw him become the club’s fourth-highest-ever goal scorer.
Pukki subsequently moved to the MLS to join Minnesota United but has remained at the forefront of Finland’s side in their quest to reach major tournaments.
They face England at Wembley on Tuesday evening in the Nations League hoping for redemption after a 3-0 defeat to Greece, but the former City man is under no illusions of the size of the challenge.
“I am really excited to be in England again. I had five great years here. I don’t know; maybe I was lucky I had never played at Wembley. The stadium looks incredible and is one of the most iconic football stadiums.
“I don’t know if this sounds ridiculous, but we approach every game with a winning mentality because it’s possible in football,” he said at Wembley on the eve of the game.
“The players have to have that kind of attitude in their minds when they start the game, that there’s a chance to win this game, even against world-class teams like England.
“Hopefully that inspires them also, and requires a lot of hard work on the pitch. That’s for sure.
“Of course we are underdogs. Everyone understands that, but that suits us pretty well in the past as well.”
Finland are the visitors to Wembley for Lee Carsley’s first home game in interim charge of the Three Lions, but also on a night that will see Harry Kane pick up his 100th cap for England.
Kane, a one-time Norwich loanee, will be just the 10th player to reach the milestone for England, and Pukki is in awe of the Bayern Munich striker.
“If you think about the strikers at the moment in the world, I think he’s probably in the top three if not the best,” he said. “He’s been scoring goals for how many years?
“What he has done for English football is remarkable, and I’m really excited to play against him as well. A great, great player.”
Pukki hasn’t recaptured his free-flowing goal-scoring form since moving Stateside. The 34-year-old has six goals in 20 appearances this season and has started just one of the last six matches for Minnesota.
His contract in the US expires next summer, but the 34-year-old has insisted he is not yet ready to end a career that has seen him play in England, Spain, Scotland, Denmark, and Germany.
“Let’s see what happens then,” he told Finnish outlet Helsingin Sanomat. “I still want to play football.”
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