Miska Mäkinen couldn’t believe his winning goal.
Miska Mäkinen, who scored the winning goal, posed with Otto Lehkosuo and the trophy. Mäkinen’s medal came off the ribbon in the middle of the celebration. Henri Keränen / Floorball Association
It was quite a trade. There was only a good minute left in overtime of the Floorball World Cup final when the defender Miska Mäkinen28, first took an elaborate exploit in the midfield.
The ball came Heikki for Iiskolawho cut towards Sweden’s goal and saw Mäkinen get up to the back post. Input, shot and ventilation. With a 5–4 overtime victory, the world championship returned to Finland.
– Had to look a couple more times, did it really hit the goal. I started venting, and I still wasn’t sure at all at that point. Then I saw that the whole team jumped into the air in the changing room, Mäkinen was spinning in the middle of the championship celebration.
– I saw in the middle area that Sweden Albin Sjögren bounced a bit. I thought about striking. Then just full towards the back post, and that’s where Heikki put it.
Finland returned as world champion after two World Cup tournaments that ended in disappointment.
Mäkinen, who celebrated his first adult WC gold in his career, only had a ribbon hanging around his neck in the interview area.
Where’s your medal?
– Here, Mäkinen said, the hem of his shirt and showed a precious metal puck peeking out from under the waistband of his shorts.
– It dropped at that party, but it’s still there.
“You’re already cold”
Mäkinen and captain Nico Salo carried head coach Esa Jussila to a golden shower. Henri Keränen / Floorball Association
Sweden led the match at the beginning of the second period 4–0. Finland was on top throughout the opening set.
However, the opening goal scored by Iiskola freed Finland. In the Swedish camp, on the other hand, the bat started shaking in the hands. The Finns sensed it, and then they struck.
– We noticed after a couple of narrow goals that Sweden started to poop a bit. It’s not easy to play in front of a home crowd. They probably already had one foot in the championship party and the beers were cold.
Yard gambler
The joy was at its highest in the dressing room. Henri Keränen / Floorball Association
Mäkinen was among the best in the entire WC tournament from the start. The gambler who excelled as an attacker as a junior has emerged in recent years as one of the best defenders in the world.
After all the cheers heard during the tournament, it was fitting that Mäkinen scored his opening goal of the Games just when Finland needed it the most.
– He is a pretty good yard gambler. Few care how many viewers there are in the sandbox. A wonderful person and athlete. It’s been great how, at a more experienced age, he has risen to the national team and become a decisive player.
Jussila referred to the Pakila playground group in Helsinki. In addition to Mäkinen, there were members of that circle of friends in the gold team Otto Lehkosuo, Aaro Astala and Iiskola.
The championship celebrated in Malmö was the fifth in Finnish men’s history.