Riga. On the ice, Tre Kronor is the heavy favorite ahead of the Latvia.
But the big threat facing Sweden’s semi-finals lies in the stands:
– Honestly, it was crazy, says the Latvian star, Swedish acquaintance Rodrigo Apolls, about the enormous pressure of the fans at the Riga Arena.
Tre Kronor moved from Tampere to Riga for the quarter-final against Latvia. The Latvian team started the tournament with two straight losses, but then collected five straight wins. Victory over Switzerland in the final match of the group stage saw Latvia finish third in the group, the country’s best achievement in World Cup history.
In hockey-crazy Latvia, ice hockey is close to a religion, not least now that a water tournament is played on home soil.
It is an experience to be a part of Latvia and to give it so much joy and pride. Every spring, the Ice Hockey World Cup is the biggest event that happens in Latvia and the entire nation is glued to the TV. It’s a lot of pressure as a player, says Rodrigo Apolles, but also a lot of fun.
The main reason why Latvia reached the quarter-finals for only the second time in history is the fantastic home support.
A boiling crowd hailed him from SHL profile and co-captain Rodrigo Apolles.
– always sold out, and loudly. The scene exploded when we took the point against Switzerland to qualify for the quarter-finals. People shouted loudly and cried with joy.
We hope to get additional energy from the audience
More than 9,000 Latvian fanatics supported their team during the group stage, and at least several of them continued to go to the large fan area outside the arena.
Honestly, it was crazy. The pressure of the masses is something we must take advantage of. He’s a sixth player on the field for us, says the Apollos.
Crowd pressure is something Tre Kronor will have to deal with, and national team captain Sam Hallam is well aware that it will be a factor to take into account.
– On our part, it is about managing the environment and maintaining peace, says Helm.
What do you think of the Witch’s Boiling Cauldron you will encounter?
– Of course, this is support for the Latvians, but it also means that we as a away team get extra energy from the environment and the atmosphere.
How will you talk to the team about dealing with it and not getting carried away?
– that when we play defense, we play defense, that we do those things and be humble. We play against the hockey team, not the fans.