Marko Anttila did it again: the lion captain became the decisive player when the team desperately needed it.
Marko Anttila had reason to smile. Jussi Saarinen
– A man in tight spots. I guess he realized that now is a tight spot, and then decided to go make one.
Chain mate Ahti Oksanen characterization Marko from Anttila laughed “Mörköa” himself.
– Well, I don’t know. Yes, he tries it more often, Anttila, 37, said.
In some remarkable way, Anttila always succeeds when Leijon has a particularly tight spot.
Anttila scored a 4–4 draw against Sweden’s Dream Team in the 2019 World Cup quarterfinals. Finland won 5–4 in overtime. In the semi-final, he sank Russia with his goal, which was supposed to be Ylikylä’s team. In the World Cup final against Canada, the man succeeded twice, and the latter was the championship goal.
At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Anttila hit in the quarterfinals and served in the final Hannes Björninen golden paint.
In the same spring, in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Tampere against Slovakia, Anttila brought Finland up to par with his two goals, and the team eventually advanced to the championship.
Powers 1+1
There was emotion in Anttila’s venting. Petri Saarelainen / AOP
Now it wasn’t about the playoffs, but once again you can say that Anttila took the team on his back when the emergency was great.
France, who defeated the Lions only once in the history of hockey, was tied in the second set, and Finland’s game did not go well at all.
That’s when Mörkö peeked out from behind the corner, who first passed Oksanen’s 2–1 lead goal, and after France got back on level terms, shot the 3–2 goal himself.
It was born with a determined challenge in a one-on-one attack. Anttila’s cut after a small deviation to a better sector and a sharp wrist shot right after it was an equation that produced a raucous atmosphere.
– I don’t know where that idea came from. Sometimes it has worked on the rinks, and I tried it now that I was able to challenge the pack at a good speed. I decided to go in the middle and luckily it worked this time, Anttila smiled.
– The opponent made the match quite difficult for us, but the patience was at a sufficient level and we were able to score the necessary goals. Yes, I am happy that sometimes I succeed myself. Those are great things, especially in a tournament like this.
“I just enjoy”
Anttila could not give a clear answer to the question about his magic in tight places.
– I’m just enjoying myself, he said, and I think he’s revealing his secret after all.
– When you look at the team, you had to do a full day’s work in the camp to get to the games. I will do my best, and that will be enough for the Games if it is enough. I wasn’t promised any place. With my own work, I try to do what deserves to be played.
And there are always critics who criticize the choice of the “too slow” or “too old” Anttila on Facebook or in the media.
– Everyone has the right to say what they want. I just try to do my own thing and of course be present when needed – be it defense or attack.
Indeed, Anttila plays an important role also and above all in the defensive direction, because he carries a big responsibility in the subordinate forces.
– There are opinions in the world, and they are all perfectly good. They don’t bother me, he answered the critics verbally.
The correct answer was already seen on the ice.