Leijoni’s Pekka Jormakka remembers well what happened at the Belarus Games in 2014.
Pekka Jormakkalet me think back to spring 2014. What comes to mind first?
– Well, the initial series is a bit dark… but that’s a good idea for the rest. And then we were close to the championship.
You probably remember how you survived the first series to the sequel?
– Yes, I do remember. We were watching that game. Now I don’t remember exactly which teams were…
Switzerland and Latvia. And Switzerland had to win for the Lions to reach the quarterfinals.
– True. And if I remember, there was a Läpiajo or a post at the wrong minute. If it had gone in, we would have gone home the next day.
But it didn’t go.
– Did not go. And now we have a bit of a similar story going on.
So. There are really enough points of contact.
– Now we need four more wins from here.
And one point will be enough for you tomorrow. That is, the place in the quarter-finals will come, even if tomorrow’s match against Switzerland results in a loss in overtime or in the winning goal contest.
– We’re going for four wins. And tomorrow we’ll take the first one.
Now, compared to ten years ago, you have the advantage that the next place is in your own hands.
– We are in a much better situation than in Minsk! Although there is a really tough match coming up tomorrow. This (Denmark game) needs to be improved a lot.
You are the hero of the team. Have you reassured the younger ones and told them that all kinds of things can happen at the World Cup?
– Yes I am. At least I have mentioned it to those first-timers. That there is no need to panic here. Const (Helenius) was not in the lineup now, so I told him to keep himself ready to play. It could be a long tournament, where there could be injuries. You don’t know that, even if he plays there in the most important match.
Have you talked among the players in the booth about the events of the Minsk Games?
– Yes, we have been mentioned about it to some extent. Iro (Buttock) seems to be the only one, besides me, who was involved at the time.
What have you been talking about those games?
– Well, let’s write a somewhat similar story.
So you’re going to the World Cup final here too?
– To the final. And then you have to brighten that silver.
Finland will face Switzerland in its last match of the preliminary series of the World Cup on Tuesday. If Austria beats Great Britain on Tuesday in regular time, Leijonat needs at least a point from the match.
If Austria does not beat Britain in regular time, Leijonat will be in the future, even if they lose to Switzerland.
will follow the Switzerland match starting at 21:20 in moment-by-moment coverage, which you can find at this link.