Columbus Crew SC defender Jukka Raitala was with the Finland Men's National Team as it hosted Liechtenstein in an eventual 1-1 draw on Wednesday. Raitala played the full 90 minutes — including two different positions (right and left back) for his native Finland. Finland led 1-0 at the end of the first half thanks to an 18th minute goal, but the visitors equalized in the 62nd minute.
Finland is in Group I of UEFA’s First Round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification, along with Iceland, Turkey, Kosovo, and Ukraine, whom they host at Tampere Stadium on June 11. The teams that finish in first place of each group automatically qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The eight best runners-up across all groups will move forward to a two-part playoff series, with winners of each series qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup as well.
Finland is currently fifth place in Group I with a 0-2-4 record.
Before Wednesday, Raitala’s last appearance for Finland took place on March 28 against Austria. Raitala started the match and played the full 90 minutes, making it his 36th cap.
Three other Crew SC players were also recently called up for international duty. Mohammed Abu, Harrison Afful, and Jonathan Mensah were all called to join Ghana ahead of a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying match against Ethiopia on June 11. The Black Stars will then play an international friendly against Mexico on June 28, followed by a friendly against the United States Men's National Team on July 1.
Crew SC’s 2017 roster features 12 players that have received a senior National Team call-up throughout their careers (Abu, Afful, Ethan Finlay, Waylon Francis, Ola Kamara, Cristian Martinez, Mensah, Justin Meram, Raitala, Rodrigo Saravia, Zack Steffen, Wil Trapp).
Crew SC next faces a June 17 match in Atlanta against MLS-expansion side Atlanta United comes next with a 7 p.m. ET kickoff in regular-season action. Crew SC next plays the Montreal Impact at MAPFRE Stadium on Saturday, June 24 with a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff. Enjoy half-off select beers (for supporters ages 21-and-over), Pepsi products, brats and pretzels through the 15th minute.
concession items subject to change
The Black & Gold welcome German Bundesliga-side and DFB Pokal-finalist Eintracht Frankfurt to MAPFRE Stadium for an international friendly on Monday, July 17. The match is set to kick off at 7:30 p.m.
