Despite the great victory, there is a problem in Finland’s game: “It has to be Teppo Numminen”

Despite the great victory and the place in the semifinals, Finland’s game performance also left a lot to be desired.

Especially in the first two periods, the uncertainty on the puck spoke of the nervousness brought by the tension, which was visible, among other things, in an exceptionally large number of unsuccessful receptions of passes. Many good blanks for opening and attacking games dried up in them.

Although Slovakia entered the quarterfinals as second in their initial group and Finland as third, Finland was the preliminary favorite for the match. It had not lost to Slovakia on the ice of the World Youth Championship in nine years.

Iltalehti’s ice hockey expert Pekka Virta knows that the subconscious mind easily plays tricks on the player.

– When a person feels that he has more to lose than to win, the old saying applies: you worry about losing things that you haven’t even achieved yet.

In the future, the situation will change, as Finland will go to the semi-final against the USA on Thursday as a clear contender.

That can be a good thing. The underdog position has traditionally suited Finland, and in these games too, the team has played its best match so far, defeating the big favorite Sweden in the final match of the first group.

– The world of thought is such that now the games have been saved and from now on it is only a matter of winning, Virta characterizes.

“Hard work”

However, success does not come with just a strong desire to show off.

– You won’t achieve anything if you don’t do well in the five-a-side game, Virta emphasizes.

– And the tougher the opponent, the more united you have to play and be able to defend.

– However, Finland has been quite often lost on their own, Virta notes and reminds, for example, of Sweden’s long attacks.

In part, this is a consequence of Finland’s way of defending its own territory.

– The pack is meant to catch up quickly, if there is a chance. There will be no doubling or tripling, so as not to rush to the wrong side of the game, analyzes Virta.

– It’s a pretty tough job for Pak, he knows.

The Finnish defender basically plays one-on-one and tries to separate the opponent from the puck by tackling.

– In today’s flex bowl, a good attacker still doesn’t often lose the puck. It accepts the tackle, bounces back and the movement continues, because Finland does not have the next player to immediately double the situation.

In other words, the situation lacks another Finnish player who would take the puck away from the attacker or catch the resulting loose puck. Instead, the “second” has his own player, whom he has marked and against whom he defends.

– There will be situations where the big pack can’t get the wily attacker off the puck. Then the other pack ponders whether or not they should go help.

Do both

Slovakia’s 2–2 equalizer was born out of just such a situation, when Jesse Pulkkinen went behind the goal to help his teammates Kasper Kulonummabut the puck still remained in the attacker’s possession.

– Then a player left in front of the goal to help, Virta scored a cross Samu Baun solution.

Dalibor Dvorsky was left so free in front of the goal that after receiving the end pass, he had time to shovel the return puck of his own shot into Finland’s backpack.

– There have been more similar situations along the way, Virta takes care.

The defense is quickly in trouble if the first shot is not successful – or even if the opponent is tackled on the wing but does not get the puck.

– The puck should be able to do both, i.e. stop the player’s movement and take the puck.

It is a tough challenge for a defender who strikes first.

– Must be Prank Numminenthat he can do both and still attack from there, Virta compares.

Defense from within

In doubling and, if necessary, tripling, help would be proactive.

– So let’s go and take that puck away, Virta sums up the attitude of this defensive method.

– Or there is a clear positional defense: we play from the inside and don’t even try to throw men against the wall, because it takes energy if it doesn’t work. Rumba starts spinning immediately if one player falls behind their own player.

Virta says that she understands Finland’s effort to defend the center.

– It’s a choice not to double or triple, so that there are no oops goals in the middle. But is it worth trying to catch up in all situations?

– Or should it be better to be on the inside, to keep the energy and to stop the spin with the stick interference, Virta suggests.

– You can then attack from that racket.