Current silver medalists and five-time European champions Finland got the 2024/25 IFAF continental tackle tournament off to a winning start with a 28-6 victory in Czechia. Neighbors Sweden hosted Great Britain and the single place between the two nations in the rankings was evident as Sweden triumphed by a single point.

At Městský Stadion in Ústí nad Labem on Sunday, with 18-year-old quarterback Amos Feranec under center, Czechia passed for more yards than their number two overall seeded visitors, but two interceptions returned for touchdowns proved their undoing.

After a scoreless first quarter Finland’s Timi Nuikka returned a pick six and Anssi Ruohonen’s first of four successful extra points opened a 7-0 lead.

Finland quarterback Ambro Urjannson found Janne Särkelä over the middle to set up a spectacular diving grab by Verneri Rainio in the corner of the end zone for a 14-0 lead.

A scrambling Urjannson then connected with Rainio on a 40-yard completion and with 41 seconds remaining in the half, before dropping a perfect pass in to the hands of Joel Särkelä in the end zone for a second passing touchdown and what looked like being a 21-0 Finland halftime lead.

Feranec had other ideas and as time expired in the half, the composed passer was patient when flushed from the pocket, threw across his body, and put up a pass that Jakub Wolesky caught before stretching to breach the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown.

The 21-6 halftime score remained on the board until a heads up play by Finland’s Aatu Tuokko, who read a pass attempt and stepped in front of the intended receiver to race untouched for a 40-yard pick six and a 28-6 final score.

“A phenomenal match from the defense, it was decisive today,” said Finland head coach Mikko Koikkalainen. “The offense had a slightly slow start and minor errors throughout the match and this took points off the board. But overall, the game was under our control. Rene Rautainen made a great entrance to the national team. On defense, Timi Nuikka was everywhere.”

Sweden edged Great Britain 20-19 at the Sola Arena in Karlstad on Sunday. Despite a pair of rushing touchdowns from Britbowl XXXVI MVP Andy Owusu, Great Britain fell just short when a two second half point-after-attempts were blocked.

The Lions scored on their opening possession and led 7-0 when Owusu rushed 40 yards untouched up the middle of the field for a touchdown.

Kasper Wedberg pulled Sweden level with a short run to cap a long drive and a 41-yard field goal by Albin Forsman opened a three-point Swedish lead following a big defensive stop and punt return.

Forsman increased Sweden’s 10-7 halftime lead by a further three points with a 46-yard field goal, but Owusu bruised his way for a second rushing touchdown to level the scores. Crucially Alex Lenkowski’s extra point was blocked.

Sweden regained the lead when quarterback Max Lambert surveyed his options before unloading a long pass to Elliot Reer, which set up first and goal and eventually a whipped pass out wide from Lambert to Robin Gavelin Miranda for a touchdown. Forsman tagged on the point after despite a high snap and Sweden led 20-13

Great Britain mounted a comeback as a 55-yard third down pass from Christian Strong to Ben Harrison teed up a touchdown reception by Anousheh Fulford, who raced beyond the secondary to reel in the scoring grab. Looking to tie the game with 58 seconds remaining, Great Britain attempted the extra point, but after a bad snap Sweden’s Oscar Strömstedt’s raised right hand produced the all-decisive block.