Two events in the last few days have increased Lassi Lappalainen’s chances of participation at his country’s first-ever tournament finals.
He underlined his return to fitness, Saturday, making his first appearance since last October and then just this morning, UEFA announced that teams are allowed to select a 26-man squad instead of the usual 23.
It’s conceivable that Lappalainen would have been in the squad even at the more conventional 23 before the shoulder injury sustained in Columbus which ruled him out of action for six months, but he’s now in the position of having to prove form and fitness to catch the eye of coach Markku Kanerva.