Covid-19 travel regulations have put paid to Montreal Impact’s Finnish pair adding to their international caps tally over the next few days.
Nations League matches dominate Europe’s football landscape this weekend, with the Euros-qualified Finns due to meet Ryan Giggs’ Wales in Helsinki this afternoon and the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Sunday (6 Sept).
Another MLS Finnish international, 38-times capped, Robin Lod of Minnesota United also misses out.
Raitala and Lappalainen aim to catch the games LIVE via a Finnish channel obtainable here in Montreal.
Today’s game against the Welsh could have been a particularly busy and intense one for Raitala, who would likely have found himself face to face with one Gareth Bale at some stage throughout the proceedings.