Finland and Sweden will meet in the semifinals of the Under-20 Ice Hockey World Cup. The match starts at three o’clock next night. In the second semi-final, the tournament’s number one favorite Canada and the Czech Republic will meet.
Pekka Aalto,
Riku Porvari
13:46•Updated 13:46
Nuoret Leijonat will play against Sweden early on Saturday for the final place in the World Cup. The semi-final starts at three in the morning Finnish time.
Neither has made much of an impact in the tournament yet. In the first group, Finland clearly lost to Canada 3–6, and Sweden was in trouble with Latvia in the quarterfinals. The western neighbor eventually won 2–1. Finland, on the other hand, defeated Germany 5–2 in the quarterfinals.
Sports expert Top Nättinen takes a critical view of Finland’s possibilities during the game.
– After watching Finland’s games and seeing the statistics, based on everything, Sweden will win the semifinal. Sweden is slightly better than Finland in all areas, and Finland’s mental state has not convinced me at all. Of course, all kinds of things can happen in one game, but if I have to bet, I’ll bet Sweden, Nättinen sums up.
The statistics of the semi-final pair are special reading. Finland’s superiority percentage is a whopping almost 60, but Alivoima’s is a miserable 45.5. In Sweden, on the other hand, both special situations work brilliantly. The low power output is almost 50 percent better than in Finland!
– The statistics are very confusing. When such skilled coaches and the best players of the age group are together, Finland must be able to beat the underdog.
Nättinen reminds us that in a small rink and in an emotional game, it is almost impossible to play completely ice-free.
He still believes that the key to a place in the finals is a high-quality game on a level playing field.
– You can even win a short tournament, even if the special situations are not top-notch.
Sweden’s goalkeeping has also been better than Finland’s. Jesper Wallstedt has played three games with a save percentage of 92.2 and Calle Clang two games with a great reading of 94.4.
– Finishing is critically important for Finland. On the other hand, whoever is in Finland’s goal, now must clearly play the best game of the tournament.
Until now, the one who has borne the main responsibility Leevi Meriläinen the percentage hovers just over 89 before the semi-finals.
Finland’s previous World Cup gold was from 2019. It has already been ten years since Sweden’s championship.
Now the big favorite of the tournament is Canada, which is expected to crush the Czech Republic in the first semi-final at 11 pm Finnish time. The medal matches are played on the night between Saturday and Sunday.