Halifax. It’s a Swedish team that has a lot to prove.
But forget Canada – and upload back to Finland.
A place in the final is by no means an impossibility.
Read the introduction for real.
It’s not like I’m sitting and raising the chances of the Swedish national team to the sky at this tournament. Frankly, the junior crowns weren’t affected at any point during the tournament.
Austria was very weak.
A near victory over Germany.
An overtime win over the Czech Republic in a game that certainly could have gone the other way.
surpassed by Canada.
The Little Crowns put up a completely lackluster effort against Canada. Aside from the approved portions in the middle of the period, the home team’s game was from start to finish.
The Swedes haven’t reached the level required to play at least on par with Lönnlöven. At the same time, it must be said that the favorite Canada has a very strong team in Halifax. The team that beats all teams seeking gold.
As it stands now, no team will succeed.
They still have everything in their hands
I don’t have a good feeling about this team’s medal chances.
Do you have what it takes at this point? Do you understand what is required?
I don’t see anyone or anyone others can count on. There is no clear leader. I lack some energy, fighting spirit and competitive instinct.
At the same time, I was wrong before and I’m glad to be back again.
It could be there – but then it’s time to pick it up. The junior crowns still have everything in their hands to make a positive impact on the tournament.
It’s one thing to be outdone by Canada. Competing with teams like Finland and the Czech Republic is something else entirely.
I think New Year’s Eve was a real wake-up call for many Swedish players. They’ve been taught a lesson about what level they’re at and what it takes to get far in the tournament.
Now it comes down to how the players and management staff deal with this overreach.
Canada is nine times better than ten
If they clench their fists and humbly work out the shortcomings that have become apparent against Canada, the ability to handle the puck and play at a high pace as well as a scrimmage game, then there is every chance to come out stronger and better.
Historically speaking, it has never been shameful to go with a slap in the face in the group stage. Most of the teams that win gold have faced adversity early in the tournament.
Just look at Canada, which opened with a 2-5 loss to the Czech Republic. Or Finland, who lost their opening match to Switzerland. Or the United States, which lost to Slovakia. All teams run mine, and the way it’s handled says which team you want to be.
Now I don’t think there will be any gold. Canada is better than this Swedish team nine nights out of ten. And of course it could already finish in the quarter-finals.
But Finland is something very different from the Canada against which the juniors’ crowns were pitted on New Year’s Eve.
Up front, it feels like a 50/50 match, just like it actually happened when the two teams met in the last three JVM tournaments.
There have been single goal victories on all occasions and Finland have won the last two meetings. First in the quarter-finals in 2021 and in August in the semi-finals.
Sweden has a better goalkeeper
Everything indicates that it will be another match.
But Sweden was at least as good as Finland in this particular model. They took home the bronze medal at the 2021 U18 WC against Finland, as large parts of that team thrashed Finland 8-0.
If Sweden succeeds and favorites Czech Republic, Canada and the United States win the quarter-finals, the Czech Republic is waiting to qualify for the semi-finals.
This is because the Czech Republic with the most points of any team in the group stage and the junior crown – if they beat Finland – are the last seeded nation in the semi-finals.
Finland in the quarter-finals and the Czech Republic in the semi-finals. Two countries where the crowns of the young are certainly equal.
During the tournament, I highlighted Karl Lindbom as the player who could make a difference for Sweden, no difference before meeting Finland.
Sweden has the best goalkeeper and this can be very decisive in an even match.
Jani Lampinen has certainly impressed in his two matches, conceding only two against Latvia and Slovakia. But I wouldn’t trade Karl Lindbom for any other goalkeeper in this tournament.