Victor Stjernborg scored the winning goal against Finland in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Victor Stjernborg showed a model of performance in a big match and earned a place in the Junior World Championships for his country.
It’s just a shame that the goal went into the Finnish net and ended our team’s World Cup tournament.
It was Stjernborg’s first goal in the tournament.
– The puck bounced on that side. The puck bounced over the linesman’s platform and I saw my chance. I got through and decided to try between the branches.
The goal was big for the youngster from Växjö.
– It was probably the biggest goal of my career so far, the player admits.
Do you know how many people you made sad in Finland with your goal?
– Maybe not, but sorry my Finnish friends, Stjernborg states.
That’s how it turned out
Victor Stjernborg apologizes to the Finns for this goal. The skipper’s goal brought Sweden a 3–2 victory and ended Finland’s World Cup tournament. PDO
Sweden somehow found the mental strength with which it turned the game around from a losing position. In hockey, the little brother became the big brother again – at least for a while.
– I think we had such a spirit in the team that we wouldn’t give up. We got into the game better in the second half. When they scored a 2-1 goal it was a bit more difficult again.
– But we always had the feeling that we could turn the game around.
Coach Magnus Hävelid wasn’t sure which fins the team turned the game around with.
– Good question. We were so slow in the first half, we couldn’t match their pace and effort. We talked about things after the first set, it helped. We added skating and then played more simply.
– Even though Finland scored a 2–1 goal, my confidence on the bench remained. We were also lucky at the end, admits the head coach.
Attack the Czech Republic
Sweden will challenge the Czech Republic today in the World Cup semi-final. The other semi-final pairing is Canada-USA.
The captain knows which elements of Sweden’s game must be found in order for the Czech Republic to fall.
– Good passes, pace throughout the game and a hundred percent effort by everyone in every situation.
– I believe that we have the right spirit in the team. Something happened on the bench and in the booth in the Finland game. They were only good things. I believe we have a chance to go to the final, says Stjernborg.
Flying start
The head coach wants to see a different Sweden in the semi-final.
– We played against them in the first series. We won in overtime. The teams know each other. The Czech team defends evenly, they have good strikers, they know how to score goals.
– For me as a coach, the start of the match is important. We need a better start than against Finland. The team must be physical and shoot more. I want us to have more company and keep the game simple.