Pekka Virta says his hard words about Finland’s historic defeat in the World Youth Championship against Germany.
- The ambiguity of Finland’s way of playing gets criticism from Pekka Virra.
- According to Virra, the team’s enthusiasm and mentality will only come after the principles of the game are clear to everyone.
– There is a lot of talk about emotional state, self-confidence and playing courage, but the most important thing is forgotten, i.e. what is the result of everything, Iltalehti’s ice hockey expert Pekka Virta to tumble.
– The agreed systems and principles of the game should be so clear that they give the game security and trust. Despite all the fighting and cheering, it’s about a ball game, says Virta, emphasizing the last word.
He illustrates his message with an example from the football side.
– No Pep Guardiola be the world’s best gamer and psychic, but the world’s wisest ball game tactician. After that, he psychs up, chats and creates an emotional space.
Weak start
Virta saw a “feeling of ignorance” in the Finnish players, and the team was unable to attack as a five.
– 15 minutes had been played when we got inside with a united five and the first long attack came.
– The clearly better players could not control the game. Instead, Germany won the shots sensationally, Virta wrapped up the opening set, after which the goals were still tied at 1–1.
In the second set, Finland lost its game.
– In the second set, there is an opportunity to apply pressure and temper, which comes naturally, and that’s where Finland got a better grip on the game. It was able to tackle and seize and was able to pressure the game on Germany’s end, as the sense of performance and throwing themselves into the game improved.
– Germany tried a lot by playing away from their own and did not hit long pucks at all. Because of that, it sometimes had to spin a little too long. Finland had a chance to win that game in the second set.
However, this did not happen, the opposite happened when the mistakes of the defense backfired as a 2–3 set loss.
– In the third set, the opponent gathered more of the five, and again we were attacked much underpowered.
Germany’s 4–3 lead lasted until the end, when the set ended goalless.
No need to sacrifice
Iltalehti expert Pekka Virta piloted Rauma Luko to the Finnish championship in 2021. PASI LEISMA
Instead of pushing the game like panic, Virta would like to see a stronger belief in their own five-man game from the players.
– Attack less often, but with a full five. Then you have support and you get the pressure to stay in the attacking zone.
– There were enough chances to win that game. Still, the dramatization, buttering and even a little biting was striking. The willpower was certainly tough, but it’s equally tough in all countries. However, sacrificing yourself does not create self-confidence or peace and faith in your own way of playing.
Review of the playbook
The head coach is naturally responsible for teaching the style of play Lauri Mikkolan with leading coaching.
– There is quite a lot of people around the Finnish national team. Would someone please tell me which playbook to rely on, because it’s really hard to see from the game.
Finland will face Latvia on Friday and Sweden on Sunday in the preliminary round.
– The head coach and the team get to refine the idea of the game a lot before the games. The playbook should also be ready for these 6–4 situations, Virta refers to the superiority situation at the end of the Germany game, where Finland sought an equalizer without a goalkeeper.
When the gameplay seems so unclear, what can be done?
– In my opinion, we should go back to where we started from, Virta answers.
– What did we set out to do, what do we know and what have we practiced in the short time, what have we practiced? If the tension, the emotional state and the rhythm of the game are wrong, that’s where the confusion comes into the game.
– Let’s go back to what has been done or planned before. Nothing new can be planned. We have to have a complete game against Latvia in order to be able to play against top Sweden as a five and as a team.
According to Virra, Finland’s only chance of beating Sweden lies in being at least as good in the five-a-side game.
– In that sense, the Latvia game should be tactically successful. It should open players up again, which is what we’re trying to do.
– Let’s go deep with other than chip discs. Now the platforms were really on time all the time and had to stop at the back blue, when the pressure was released, Virta noted.
– The playbook should be told to the players, what it was before the games.