D.C. United’s Markus Halsti called up to Finnish National Team

Washington, D.C. (Via D.C. United) – D.C. United has announced that midfielder/defender Markus Halsti has been called into the Finnish National Team for a pair of 2016 European Championship qualifying matches. Halsti has been selected to the Finland roster for games against Greece in Athens on Sept. 4 and the Faroe Islands in Helskinki, Finland, on Sept 7.

Halsti will depart following D.C. United’s match against the New York Red Bulls on Aug. 30. In his first season with the Black-and-Red, Halsti has appeared in seven regular season games (five starts) in addition to two appearances (two starts) in the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and one appearance (one start) in the 2015-16 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League.

Halsti has 22 appearances with the Finland National Team since his debut in 2008. He last appeared in a 1-0 loss to Hungary on June 13. Finland (1-4-1, 4 points) is currently in fifth place in Euro 2016 Qualifying Group F.