Ice hockey record world champion Canada is in the World Cup final for the seventh time since 2015. The 27-time title holder had to do hard work in the semifinals on Saturday in a 4: 2 (0: 1, 1: 1, 3: 0) against co-hosts and outsiders Latvia.
In front of 8,669 mostly Latvian fans in Tampere, Finland, Canada only found a way against the passionately fighting underdogs in the final third. The last goal fell into the empty Latvian goal.
With the semi-finals, Latvia had already ensured the greatest ice hockey success of the small country. The 6,000 Latvian spectators came to Finland with numerous special flights after the 3-1 win against Sweden in the quarter-finals and should also ensure a home atmosphere in the game for third place on Sunday (2:20 p.m.).
Canada, on the other hand, can again choose the sole record champion in the final (7.20 p.m.). Currently, both the Canadians and Russia, which is currently excluded from World Cups, have 27 titles.