Finland’s head coach Jukka Jalonen is not worried, even though Leijonat suffered his third defeat in a week. The line-up of the team preparing for the World Cup has gradually formed on the basis of the latest screens.
Emma Hyyppä,
Henri Pitkänen
The Finnish men’s hockey team suffered its third consecutive loss in the spring national matches when the Czech Republic won a 2–1 victory in the Swedish EHT tournament in Stockholm. The lions lost 2-3 to Tampere in Switzerland on Thursday and 0-2 to Sweden a week ago.
The Lions has been a pre-favorite for the World Championships as it won Olympic gold in Beijing in February. Opposition to the Olympic finals Russia (Russian Olympic Committee team) is excluded from the World Cup.
But have three consecutive losses after fifteen consecutive victories shaken the Lions ’self-confidence? Head coach Jukka Jalosen According to him, the difficulties of the past week will not affect Finland’s expectations for success at the World Championships starting on Friday.
– Don’t be too worried. Of course, always annoying when lost. You have to think about how to win in the future. The line-ups change all the time, some of the players are out, so it affects the attacking game and unity, Jalonen assured Sport for a loss.
The Swedish EHT is the last preparatory tournament before the World Championships starting in Tampere and Helsinki next week. Finland will face Sweden in its general practice at the World Cup on Sunday.
Jalonen has played many different players in the matches before the World Cup and has slowly begun to get an idea of the final team of the World Cup.
– Yes, it’s slowly starting to take shape. Of course, there is no easy situation here. There are a lot of good players. There is one more place for the screen tomorrow and after that we will make decisions.
The Czech Republic escaped to a 2-0 lead in half a minute
Finland got a great place in the very first minutes of the match, but Marko Anttila failed to get the puck from close range to an empty goal.
The match progressed steadily for a long time until the second set at 36.37 Matej Blumel fired a loose disc into the Finnish network. Goalkeeper of the lions Jussi Olkinuora had just stretched to glory, but didn’t have time to get in front of the puck after Blumel reached the top spot.
Just 29 seconds later Jiri Smejkal hit the Czechs already in the 2-0 lead. The striker, familiar to Finns, played in the last two seasons in the Finnish Championship League in Tappara and Pelicans.
Finland’s head coach Jalonen admits that the slackening of concentration around the middle of the match has been typical of Leijon.
– The end of the second installment was quiet. We have tended to give control of the game and flow to the opponent in the second installment. You have to learn to play bolder and wiser with it. The first and third installments have been good, but the second installment has been a challenge for us, Jalonen says.
For the Army, the first power point of his career in the national team
In the third installment Petrus Palmu narrowed the readings to 1-2 at the end of the run. NHL Society of Montreal Canadiens Joined Lions Strength Joel Armia recorded an entry point in the first A national match of his career.
– Annoying, of course, a loss. The first batch was quite stiff and the second batch was not bad. After the first goal, a little was lost and the guy immediately scored 2-0. The third round came with a good look and a reduction was obtained, Palmu repeated the course of the match.
Czech David Krejci finished the final scores by overcoming Finland’s empty goal 21 seconds before the final buzzer.
Spent the season in the Vancouver Canucks Juho Lammikko returned after a couple of years break to his Lions shirt. NHL players are welcome reinforcements to the Lions.
– I liked both guys. Large and very mobile and skating players. Hardworking men and good reinforcements for us definitely. As they adapt to the time difference, different conditions and the team, the game starts to go even better, Jalonen says.
Kari Jalonen motivates his team with 200 euros
Recently moved to the helm of the Czech national team Kari Jalonen was pleased with his own performance against the reigning Olympic team. He has now won eight of his 11 matches.
– I have to say that we were good today. It was the balance we had sought with the boys. We were also strong in the struggles. We also had that Czech DNA disc with us, meaning we were fast and skillful when we needed to be.
The encounter between the national team led by Kari Jalonen and Jukka Jalonen showed a Finnish handprint and the fact that the coaches know each other very well.
– We’re going to an event where it’s not worth it. The team game and the pentathlon must work. I think that Jukka and the Lions have shown what they can do. The North American teams bring their own spice, but I think the European teams are playing pretty tough hockey, Kari Jalonen says.
The Czech team played six NHL players on Saturday. Kari Jalonen wants to restore the country to the medal standings after a ten-year break.
– We are going to make it to the Tampere Games. At the World Cup, the margins are really small. They need to be able to turn them home this year, Jalonen says.
Kari Jalonen promised the Czech team a carrot of 200 euros, if it wins from Finland.
– 200 euros went that banged. But there is nothing in it. The dudes were happy when they got their money in the fine, Jalonen laughs.