With a terrible opening set, Finland bitterly succumbed to Sweden in the floorball World Cup final with 6–4. Sweden took the gold again and the Finns got the silver medals again.
At least one Finnish floorball national team career ended in bitter defeat.
Finland’s long-time goalkeeper Krista Nieminen36, said after the match that his national team career ended in the World Cup final.
At the end of October, Nieminen was played 48 international matches, so with the games of this tournament he crossed the threshold of 50 international matches. He was in the World Cup tournament for the second time this year.
– It’s a sad feeling. This is a wonderful team and it has always been an honor to represent Finland, Nieminen said with tears in his eyes.
The final was probably also a defender Laura Manninen, 30, the last international match of his career. Manninen has played with Finland in five World Cup tournaments. He has accumulated 111 international matches so far.
– I have been in this situation so many times and thought that I will not stop because I still want to win. Now I think unfortunately it was here. We’ll see, but presumably this was my last match, Manninen stated.
Nightmare opening set
The floorball women’s World Cup final started in a terrible way for Finland.
Credit defender My Kippilän the pass bounced off the side of the rink Maja Viströmin shoulder blade. The Swedish striker was able to set up his shot and put the reigning champion in the lead after only 31 seconds had been played.
After eight minutes and 13 seconds of play, Sweden already had a 3–0 lead. The Finnish coaching staff applied for a change by changing the goalkeeper. Started the match Noora Vuorela was taken to the bench, Krista Nieminen stepped into the rink.
During the opening set, Sweden scored three more goals and went into the break with a six-goal lead. Finnish attacker Oona Kauppi evaluate at the break what went wrong in the opening round.
– We will probably lose every duel. I don’t know what exactly is going on here. This is not acceptable at any level. In the next round, you have to start wanting this thing (championship). Yes, this is the place to look in the mirror in Finland and for all of us players.
A wonderful letter was not enough
In the second set, Finland improved their game a lot. The players covered shots, goalkeeper Nieminen made important saves and the team frantically searched for a goal. Unfortunately, Sweden defended strongly and the goalkeeper Lovisa Hedi played great.
Finland’s opening goal came 44 seconds before the second period break. Sarah Bishop hit a narrowing hit that inspired faith. The whole team rushed onto the field to celebrate the goal. However, the break came too quickly and Sweden was able to catch its breath.
In the final set, Finland came within two goals when the superior forces hit Miisa Turunen and Oona Kauppi. In time 56.43, when Jenna Saario floated the ball from the front corner into Sweden’s goal: 4–6.
There was still plenty of time for Finland to score additional goals with 3 minutes and 17 seconds remaining. However, a wonderful performance was not enough, the final buzzer sounded and Ruosi was able to celebrate the world championship for the ninth time in a row.
– Very annoying and annoying. I would like to say that the first installment was unforgivably bad. In the second and third, we showed that we didn’t give up, Finnish captain Veera Kauppi said after the match.
– One set ruined our tournament. This should not be allowed to happen at this level. I told the team we deserved more. Now it feels really bitter, Kauppi continued.
The head coach took the loss on his shoulders
Finland’s head coach Lasse Kurronen said the loss was a big disappointment. He couldn’t find a reason why Finland’s match started so weakly.
– Yes, you probably have to look in the mirror here. Yes, it is the head coach’s fault if the team is not more on top of the game in a game like this. Sweden was clinical, as has been seen many times. I can’t say any deeper than that at this moment, he estimated.
Kurronen has coached the Finnish women’s national floorball team since 2016. He described the team as the best he has coached.
– This game and such a squat at the start. A rather bitter taste in the mouth. Maybe the time for a bigger analysis is sometime later, what eight years have really been spent here.
Finland is a two-time world champion from consecutive years 1999 and 2001. Since then, the team has won silver eight times, once against Switzerland and seven times against Sweden. Finland has reached bronze three times.