COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew SC today announced that defender Jukka Raitala has received an international call-up from the Finland National Team. Raitala is set to join Finland ahead of its FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Turkey on March 24 and a friendly against Austria on March 28.
To date, the defender has earned 36 caps for Finland.
Finland is in Group I of UEFA’s First Round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification, along with Ukraine, Iceland, Turkey, and Kosovo. The Finnish take on Turkey in an away match at Ataturk Olympic Stadium on March 24 before playing Austria in a friendly on March 28 at Tivoli Stadion Tirol in Austria. Finland are currently in fifth place of Group I with a record of 0-1-3. The teams that finish in first place of each group automatically qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, while the eight best runners-up across all groups advance to a two-leg playoff series, with the winners of each series qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Raitala’s senior National Team debut came on February 4, 2009, in a friendly match against Japan. In June of 2011, he played in his first UEFA European Championship qualification against San Marino. The defender earned his 35th cap for Finland starting in an away FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Ukraine on November 12, 2016. Prior to his senior experience, Raitala had also been part of the Finland youth system, representing his country at the Under-17, U-19, and U-21 levels. In 2009, he was named the Finland Under-21 Player of the Year.
Raitala joined Crew SC as a Discovery Signing on December 23, 2016. The defender has made two starts during the regular season for the Black & Gold in 2017, playing every minute of the matches against the Chicago Fire (March 4) and the Houston Dynamo (March 11).
Crew SC’s 2017 roster features 13 players that have received a senior National Team call-up throughout their careers (Mohammed Abu, Harrison Afful, Ethan Finlay, Waylon Francis, Ola Kamara, Cristian Martinez, Jonathan Mensah, Justin Meram, Raitala, Rodrigo Saravia, Zack Steffen, Tony Tchani, Wil Trapp).
Crew SC next faces D.C. United on March 18 at 7 p.m. ET at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The Black & Gold return home on March 25 to host the Portland Timbers for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff at MAPFRE Stadium.
