BEIJING. Helmets and rackets in the air! The long-awaited thing is true. Finland is the Olympic champion in hockey.
The facial expressions of the team remain in the history books. They are confused at the same time, but also happy. You can see from everything that everything has been given in the trough. Finland will knock down the team of the Russian Olympic Committee by 2–1 goals.
The pace of the solution was struck by anyone other than those who became national heroes at the 2019 World Cup Marko Anttila. His bet directed the finish Hannes Björninen. Hit the same striker who had caused the Russians superiority at the very beginning of the match and thus an opening hit. However, it was no longer remembered on ice.
In fact, in the Beijing gallery, Finland’s historic Olympic gold had already felt secure before the final buzzer. When the Russians took the extra time in the final minute of the match, the members of the Finnish Olympic team who were on the barrel shelf started to keep the mecca properly. “Finland! Finland! Finland!” cries echoed. Davai’s cries, which had been loud for a moment before, had subsided.
However, another hero goalkeeper was required to win the Olympics Harri Säterin top defense in the last seconds.
While waiting for the championship ceremonies, part of the Lion just looks at the emptiness with a smile on his face, some hugging each other warmly and some grinding everything that comes out of the mouth.
The gesture shows that the team had not yet realized that they had made Finnish sports history.
If Den Glider, which was stolen from the Swedes in 1995, was in the history of the first World Cup gold, then this time no Chinese or Russian song is promised.
At the beginning of the championship ceremonies, the British band The Wanted’s 2011 hit song Glad you came from the buckets at the Beijing National Indoor Stadium, where 14 years ago the Olympic Olympics were won at the Summer Olympics.
Now it’s the turn of the Finnish hockey men’s party. Next on the playlist is Kool & The Gang’s age-old Celebration, while Lions players get instructions from the locals on the ice ceremony.
The President of the International Hockey Federation has also been brought to the medal ceremony Luc Tardif that the Chairman of the Athletes’ Committee of the International Olympic Committee Emma Terho.
In the case of Finland, however, they do not award medals, but their role is mainly as carriers of medal plates and flower buds.
The Captain of the Lions takes on the role of the actual distribution of medals Valtteri Filppula. He puts a medal around the neck of each of his teammates. Atte Ohtamaa in turn, be honored to do the same to the captain.
At the same time, only a few Finnish audiences still really make a fuss. The Chinese brought to the scene give applause, of course, but there is no great joy from there. And no wonder, because in the past in competitions they have only encouraged by order.
After the delicate song Our Country, the Finns still celebrate historical gold medals with devotion. As the team still gathers with the photographers to share, the last roar of the Lions is heard. Three times rejoicing and then it’s time to move inside the hall to the media.
It is accompanied by “good Finland” and “good Jyväskylä” shouts. After all, there are many players in Central Finland who have made efforts from Central Finland.
The last of the group, however, is Harri Säteri, a hero goalkeeper from Pirkanmaa, who is still happy to take the last selfies with those who are willing.
Russian players have watched the joy of Finnish players with empty eyes. Like the Finns, it does not contain joy, but it is full of disappointment. First in the knee position in the trough and later upright when awarding silver medals.
Coach on the grill of Russian journalists
In the basement of the National Indoor Stadium, an international press conference awaits the team’s head coach Alexei Zhamnovia seven Russian journalists in the front row. They are ready to investigate the causes of disappointment.
Last September Oleg Znarokin Zhamnov, who was suddenly replaced, has to answer the question about his future immediately. After all, the Tampere World Cup is only 82 days away.
However, Russian journalists are laughing when they have to ask about it in English. In the end, the question and the answer go to Russian.
Zhamnov stresses that he has a valid contract. All he can say is that he still wants to coach at the World Cup.
The grill of Russian journalists continues to get harder. Next, we get straight from Zhamnov, which went wrong. Zhamnov is reminded of how the Russians have always lost to Finland over the past five years. Zhamnov is not asked to explain only the game of the day, but the losses of Finland in recent years as a whole.
– It’s a really painful question for all of us, Zhamnov admits.
– Today the Finnish team had excellent discipline. They have been playing this way for at least the last three years. They attack aggressively. They are good at defending. It is difficult to get through their defense. We weren’t aggressive enough to get to the finish line, Zhamnov lists before moving on to the coach jargon in his own mind.
– I say as if anyone would say: We need to find a way to break Finland’s defense.
Next, Russian journalists will grill what Russians should learn from Finland’s success.
– If we compare our team to the Finnish team, we will have to reorganize. We have to adapt to the new Canadian-style hockey. One factor is discipline during the game. I mean, the player needs to know what needs to be done by the time they reach the pitch. Players also need to stick to the plan, Zhamnov describes.
Zhamnov adds that he was not surprised by the Lions ’grip on the final.
– Watch all their games in this tournament. Today Finland had its most aggressive game in the tournament. In terms of tactics, Finland’s way of playing has not changed. They study the problems of opponents and take advantage of them. We weren’t aggressive enough in offensive play. That was the result, Zhamnov says.
At the end of the press conference, Zhamnov was asked about my player icon Ilya Kovaltshuk activities as the general manager of the team. Zhamnov praised his work and once again his team from the tournament and left back for his team.
The explanations were apparently enough for Russian journalists, as most of them left the press conference after Zhamnov’s comments.
Jukka Jalonen, are you a national hero?
Ten minutes later, a press conference was held in a happier mood when the Lion’s head coach arrived. Jukka Jalonen and Captain Filppula. Both with a wide smile on their faces.
Jalonen initially praised the fact that he has been able to train Leijon and make Finnish sports history. In his coaching career, Jalonen has now won Olympic gold and bronze, two world championships and the under-20 world championship with the Finnish national team. The CV is unparalleled in Finnish team sports.
– I’m really happy. I believe that the people of Finland are also happy for us, Jalonen conveys greetings home to Finland through the international media.
Jalonen’s feats were also known to the international media. Captain Filppula was asked directly what it was like to be under the toughest Finnish coach ever.
– The numbers speak for Jukka. Really impressive. Jukka has built a system that has worked. Jukka has a lot of experience that helps. Throughout the tournament, Jukka kept us calm. I am happy for everyone, but especially happy for Jukka, Filppula glows.
At the same time, Jalonen tries to stay on his face at the baseline readings and almost succeeds.
The enthusiasm of the international media for Jalo did not subside. The direct cannon continued once again: Jukka Jalonen, Do you feel like a national hero?
– En. I’m just an ordinary Finnish man, Jalonen laughs majestically.
– I’m just part of our coaching team. I am glad to be the head coach of the Finnish national team. We always have great players who are committed to their roles. They are easy to coach. You never know if you will win in the end. We tried to build a good spirit. That’s why I think we have a chance for medals.
In addition to Jalonen, another topic of interest to Finland in the international media is why they have always won the Russians in real games in recent years. In the middle of the Jalonen annealing, Filppula has also given his own answer and raised the team’s defensive game.
– I’m not doing this alone. We will do this together. If there is a secret in our success, it is good cooperation and working together, Jalonen says humbly in the Finnish way.
Finally, foreigners are interested in whether Jalo is rewarded in any way in Finland.
– I don’t know, Jalonen started feeling confused.
– I heard a moment ago that our president Sauli Niinistö call me. It is a great honor to talk to him.
Filppula wants to take her first girl in her arms right in Finland
At the end of the press conference, Captain Filppula will be able to pose a gold medal around his neck and respond to the Finnish media separately.
Finnish journalists seem to be interested in knowing a lot about Filppula’s comparison of winning the Olympics with winning the Stanley Cup. Do they go to the same level or did the Stanley Cup win come to mind at the awards ceremony?
The 37-year-old veteran striker was once able to celebrate an NHL victory in the 2008 Detroit Red Wings shirt.
Filppula could not compare its achievements in a comic. It was just over an hour since the finale ended, but one thing is clear from the faces and speeches: The historical trick is still hard to put into words. Filppula is just happy to be able to share the gold medals with others.
The lions gathered on the last day of January in Kupla in Vierumä. On the same day, Filppula heard good news about the family at the same time as the firstborn was born to the family. Just two days before leaving for Beijing. Monday is the return of the Lions home and will surely be a memorable one for the Captain Lion who made history.
– It’s nice to have gifts. Of course, it has been very sad, Filppula says.
The first thing on the Finnish Chamber on Monday is already clear.
– The departure came so fast. It’s nice to take the girl in your arms and enjoy the moment, Filppula is still responding to Sport before going out with the other Lions to enjoy the Olympic victory in Beijing.
Stylish captain to the end.