PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Sweden faced a huge failure and lost against Latvia.
While host nation Finland fell to Canada and went out.
Now Russia is enjoying the great disappointment of both nations.
It was a flat fall and a big disappointment for Tre Kronor in the WC quarter-final against Latvia. Many pointed it out as a dream opponent, but when it really came down to it, Sweden bowed down and lost 1-3 in Riga.
Sweden’s fiasco
Latvia showed incredible will and strong team play to defeat the Swedes. Now the small nation is ready for the semi-finals of a hockey World Cup for the first time ever.
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Neighboring Finland also lost when they lost to Canada 1-4 at home and were forced to leave the tournament in the quarter-finals. Even that, a serious miscalculation for the host nation, which is the reigning world champion.
READ MORE: Tre Kronor strikes back after Mikael Renberg’s thunderous sawing in the World Cup fiasco: “It’s brutal”
Russia’s mockery
Russia is now enjoying it to the fullest and taking the opportunity to mock both Sweden and Finland after the early exits in this year’s World Cup tournament. Several Russian sports magazines are now mocking both nations after their fiascos.
“Sweden suffered the greatest possible shame,” writes the Russian newspaper Championat.
“Latvia narrowly made it to the play-offs, but immediately staged a shocking sensation in the quarter-finals. The permanent favorite Sweden joined the choir”.
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Finland also gets a real smack in the face of Russian pressure.
“The reigning world and Olympic champions looked fed up, lethargic and poorly motivated against the sharp and pumped up Canadians, so the final result of the match should surprise no one,” writes Championat.
“Not even the support from the stands saved them from being eliminated. The Canadians defeated the opponent with their own weapons – discipline, calmness, reliability and strict adherence to the coach’s plan,” writes Sport-Express.
READ MORE: The Latvian star’s completely sane answer to Mikael Renberg after the harsh criticism in the hockey World Cup
Russia, which was not allowed to participate in the hockey World Cup because of its war against Ukraine, describes Sweden and Finland’s performance in the tournament as shameful.
– Such a shame can never be washed away, writes the Russian newspaper Sport-Express.
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