Expert Ismo Lehkonen needs Leijon to have more fire and willingness to play at home when Finland meets Austria on Saturday. Playing with a savings flame eats the team’s offensive play.
Samu Saatsi,
Henri Pitkänen
The lions will meet at the Austrian Hockey World Championships on Saturday afternoon. Sports Expert Ismo Lehkonen needs Finland to raise the level of play and attitude in the match.
Finland has played five matches in the first block, of which it has won four.
Finland played a clean game against Britain on Friday and took the match 6-0. In this story, Lehkonen raises three picks about playing in Finland.
1. Where is the Lions’ fire at the game?
Finland started the battle for Britain firmly and was able to show the difference in the level of the teams, especially in the defensive game. Britain had almost no access to the scene.
In Lehkonen’s opinion, the most positive things in the game of the Lions were the unity of the five-way defense and the opening game. According to him, these issues have come to the fore throughout the tournament.
Lehkonen says that he followed the Lions’ game with a certain lack of emotion and fire of play.
– When comparing the team’s game to the Beijing Olympics, the difference is clear. There, the fire of the game shone in his eyes and the players weighed very hungry as well as determined in every turn, he describes.
– In this tournament, I am a little disturbed that Finland is playing in its full home hall and still feels that the players are saving.
He points out that the influence of the long season is reflected in the playing of the Lions. Finnish players have a strong control over the usual things, but the passion returns with a saving flame when there are so many games below.
– Olympic gold has already been won in one of those tournaments, which means that no bad medal has come. Now we have come here and the team knows the tournament system. When, after seven games, a game is played that solves the medal spot, it feels like the players ’foot is a little off the gas.
– It seems that there is a thought that “if I can get here a little easier, then I have not consumed too many batteries”.
According to Lehkonen, this way of thinking shines about Finland playing.
2. Certain aspects of offensive gambling in Finland still stall
‘s expert sees that it is the reluctance that makes Finland’s previously attacking game a little in place. Finland’s final game against Sweden did not pose a danger to the opponent. Counter-attacking seemed to be the preferred strategy of lions. Now, in the future, Finland must be able to utilize the courage and movement of the non-discs in its reed game.
– In offensive play in the offensive area, the reed player does his best. However, the discs tend to be “invisible men.”
The Finnish defenders rose to the top of the team against Britain. Seven defenders got their names in the power points column, with their spearheads summing the powers of 1 + 1 Niklas Friman. Lehkonen’s involvement in line-playing also includes the keys to unlock the nodes of the attacking head, as he himself hoped in the aftermath of the Swedish match.
– When the puck is used by defenders in the blue line, they must identify the conditions in the attack area from there. It brings layers to the attack area for disc play, like players in front of a goalie as a visual barrier. The other two attackers do not help to stand on the edge, but to find space themselves, Lehkonen bundles the necessary things.
He especially emphasizes that standing on the edges is of no use to the team on the scoreboard.
– It doesn’t paint like that.
3. The level of claims of lions must increase against Austria
Although Austria is not significantly better than Britain, which has been the mouthpiece of the Lions, the Lions need to raise their standards even further.
Lehkonen believes that the team wants to raise the level just because it would be as ready to play in the eighth game as possible. That game, the semi-finals, will decide the place in the medal games.
– For example, the whole team and coaching definitely want to carry out direct attacks, so that non-puck players press furiously over the blue line. For such shots, attacking players must seek follow-up games, even through contacts. Players know that they also have to take care of their communication in offensive play, Lehkonen sums up the required things.
Finland is currently playing closely at the head of the defense and launching attacks in a variety of ways. Most of all, it needs to work to get its offensive play in order.
The lions will meet in Austria on Saturday at 4.20 pm in Tampere Arena.