Miss Lind recently arrived at school to take gym class. “I’m a Finnish champion,” she proudly announced to her students. “’We played futsal at the weekend too,’ they responded. It was no big deal to them! (laughs)”

What is a big deal to her students is when their teacher pulls on that blue cross-emblazoned white shirt. Now the HIFK player is out to make it a consequentially bigger deal by doing it in the first FIFA Futsal World Cup™.

Lind, a pacey, powerful performer who has become one of the best European pivots outside Iberia, chats to FIFA about quitting 11-a-side for a sport she didn’t initially embrace, her playing style, a 16-year-old phenom and Finland’s quest to reach Philippines 2025.
You were an 11-a-side footballer. A futsal team had a lot of injuries, asked you to play and the rest is history. Can you tell us about this?
Sandra Lind: That’s all true. I never thought that futsal would be my kind of game. When I was young, I only played in the winter, when we couldn’t play [football] outdoor. I never thought, ‘I love this’. But the futsal team that was short of players, who were playing in the highest league in Finland, they had a really fun playing style. The players were free, you didn’t have stay in a fixed position. I really liked that style and I really liked the constant involvement in the game.
Who have been your idols?
My mum. She wasn’t a big player, but she was my biggest idol. I started playing football when I was five. My mum was my coach. She taught me a lot. She stopped coaching when I was around 15. [Lionel] Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo were my idols too. In futsal I have many idols. The biggest have been Janice Silva of Portugal, who is an incredible pivot, and my Finnish team-mate Tiia Juntikka. She’s really great on the ball. I’ve watched her closely for many years and learned a lot from her.

Can you describe Sandra Lind as a player?
I don’t have many flashy tricks. I rely on speed, strength, body feints and finishing. I like to play with my back to goal. I like to turn my markers. I’m quite direct – spin, shoot. I used to struggle more when I was only comfortable turning to the right. I’ve since trained a lot on going to the left and feel that’s improved my game greatly. I use toe-pokes a lot. Even if I’m the furthest player forward, I also really enjoy the defensive side of futsal. I like it when the teams comes together and we have coordinated pressure. I’d say I’m good at reading when I need to put pressure on and when I need to step back.

How did you feel when the first FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup was announced?
It was really, really, really amazing. I think it’s so important for the sport. It will push the sport forward. It’s a worthy reward for all the great players who have put their lives into futsal. I’m so, so happy.