“Maybe they'll send some beer” – Sports – svenska.yle.fi

It will be a quarter-final for the Lions in the World Cup. It was already evident during the afternoon when Austria lost surprisingly to Great Britain.

The tense group stage put the Lions in a difficult position. One point will be needed in tonight's match against Switzerland, otherwise the team will miss the qualifiers.

At least that's what most people assumed at the starting position, as few thought Austria would drop points in their afternoon match against group giants Great Britain.

But the British offered a fuss of greater proportions and extended a helping hand to Finland. The Lions were sent to the playoffs when they beat Austria 4-2.

-I have some Finnish friends, so it's good to be able to help them. “Maybe they'll send us some beer,” Great Britain goalkeeper Ben Bownes said on the FIFA website.

Ben O'Connor leveled the scores at 1-1 in a five-on-three midway through the match, and in the final period, Brett Perlini, Ivan Mussi and Robert Dodd saw the Brits take a 4-1 lead.

Austria got the numerical advantage down in the end but the team never got close. Austria was unable to stand up to the pressure as early favorites for the match and thus the World Cup would end after the group stage.

-We had everything in our hands. “It's hard right now and I don't know when or if we'll get this opportunity again,” says Benjamin Baumgartner.

Finland meets Sweden in the quarter-finals

World Cup exits Great Britain recorded their first and only group stage win – and from a Finnish point of view, it couldn't have come at a better time.

The result means the Lions could easily progress into the final group match against Switzerland. Regardless of how that match ends, Finland will play in the qualifiers.

Finland ranks fourth in the group and will face Sweden in the quarter-finals in Ostrava on Thursday.

Finland has reached the quarterfinals every time since the tournament structure was revamped in 1992, and that streak continues this year as well.