Finland sack manager ahead of crucial Ireland qualifier

Finland have sacked their manager Anna Signeul just over a month out from their crucial World Cup qualifier away to Ireland in Dublin.

Signeul was removed in the wake of the Finns' disappointing Euro 2022 showing where they exited the tournament early, having lost all three of their group games.

A 4-1 defeat to Spain in their opener was followed by a 1-0 loss to Denmark and then a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Germany brought down the curtain in their involvement.

U17 manager Marko Saloranta has been appointed on a temporary basis to oversee the remainder of the World Cup qualification campaign.

Signeul's side have also stuttered in their World Cup qualifying campaign and likely need a victory away to Ireland on 1 September to clamber back into pole position in the race for the playoff spot.

Second seeds at the outset, Finland lost 2-1 at home to Vera Pauw's Irish side last October. They are currently one point adrift of Ireland with a game against top seeds Sweden still to come.