As expected, Nuoret Leijonat has won its first three opponents. Urheilu’s expert Topi Nättinen is worried about the mental side of the team.
The Young Lions defeated Slovakia 9–3 in the third match of the first group in the under-20 hockey tournament. Sports expert Top Nättinen highlights three highlights from the Finnish team’s situation.
1. The Young Lions attacked and defended effectively
The Young Lions scored five of their nine goals with superiority. Finland is number one in the tournament’s superiority statistics with a whopping 61.54 percent certainty of success.
In addition to superpowers, Finland also did not give the opponent very many top places in its own region. For example To Juha Jatkola accumulated only 13 saves.
– If you look at this through the numbers, then the game was really good. The game was very well controlled, despite the fact that the opponent was weak and unreasonably took the ice. Three points, nine scored and five overtime goals, so in that sense a very successful match, says Nättinen.
2. The feeling of Finland is lacking
The Young Lions have made it through the three preliminary group matches with ease, as only the Czech Republic offered some sort of challenge to Finland. According to Nättinen, there has been a lack of mental strength in the team.
– The Latvia and Slovakia matches in particular were handled with style in light of the numbers, but I’m a little worried about the mental side. I haven’t seen such a feeling, a certain kind of arrogance and a desire to be even better, to move the game forward, says Nättinen.
In youth matches, that feeling often comes to the fore. The young players are happy on the field, enjoying the tournament and fanning the goals wildly. This has not been seen too much from Finnish players.
– We got it, but then it couldn’t be preserved, Pennanen said.
The mental state of the young Lions is affected by the fact that they have not had to stretch any further than this. However, Nättinen reminds us that the right feeling is not easily obtained by tapping the fingers either.
– Doing only what is necessary is humane and understandable, but does this team and individual players still have such a tough routine that they are able to quickly change their mode to furious, energetic and emotional in such a short tournament, Nättinen asks.
Finland plays its last match of the first group against Canada on the night between Monday and Tuesday. After that, there is a quarter-final match.
– Now what is enough has been done and the next step is to surpass yourself. According to my assessment, with these measures, Finland cannot do it, and in the worst case, Canada can wipe the floor of Finland.
– If Finland gets the emotional side right quickly and understands the importance of the game, Canada will be able to be challenged. It’s not a score or out match, but you have to find that spirit and understanding. You have to bring that will to fight, enthusiasm, freshness and uniqueness with you and through that get the best out of it, says Nättinen.
3. The mental state of the team in terms of composition
According to Nättinen, the Finnish coaching staff has taken a very different approach to playing compared to previous years and, for example, the Finnish A national team.
– Playing time is distributed very unevenly and players’ mistakes are reacted to in a drastic way by benching. How does it share spirit within the team? Nättinen thinks.
For example, the number one chain Aatu Rädyn has played remarkably well in the lead despite weak opponents. Winger Brad Lambert on the other hand, was caught for the second time in this tournament in the third round of the match against Slovakia.
Nättinen thought about how to handle the situation in the team.
– What is happening now and how are the players talking about the game? Do those on the borderlands of the lineup talk to each other and does the first court have its own cup club when they are having fun? Or is there still a good spirit outside the field as well? Because at least on the ice it doesn’t look like the spirit is terribly good, says Nättinen.