The Finnish national coach Outi Saarinen accidentally called up a soccer player who had long since quit. The 51-year-old Stina Ruuskanen received an invitation for this week’s Nations League match against Serbia.
National coach Saarinen mixed up a few names. As a result, she called up Stina Ruuskanen and not the 23-year-old defender Nanne Ruuskanen (pictured). The error was only discovered after the deadline for the final selection.
Stina Ruuskanen played two international matches for Finland 29 years ago. She could see the humor in the fact that she had received an invitation to the national team.
“I’m definitely ready for it,” Ruuskanen joked to the Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat. “Yesterday I played a match with the amateurs. So my match feeling is good.”
Due to the error, Nanne Ruuskanen was unable to play in the Nations League match against Serbia (1-1) on Tuesday. Saarinen has apologized to the player from the Swedish Djurgardens IF.
“Nanne was obviously disappointed, but took the news very well given the circumstances,” Saarinen said in a statement from the Finnish Football Association. “I am very sorry.”