The Czech hockey players experienced an unfortunate entry match against Russia at the World Championships in Riga. Although the Russians played them, Filip Pešán’s charges caught up three times and lost the point just before the end. “The loss is sorry, but it is better to sober up at the start of the tournament,” said the Czech coach after the 3: 4 defeat.
The Czechs flew to Riga in an optimistic mood. In preparation, they won all nine matches, in Sunday’s general in Prague they swept the Russians 4: 0. However, at the beginning of the sharp tournament, he was a better opponent. It was as if the weight of the moment had fallen on the Czechs.
“It’s true. We didn’t follow the plan from the beginning, our pucks ran away. Nervousness was visible on the players,” coach Filip Pešán said at a press conference. “We could still score points, but we didn’t deserve it,” he admitted.
The Czechs did not lead even in the opening match, they just caught up. Compared to the match in Prague, the Russians significantly changed the defense, where reinforcements from the NHL entered. Reinforced defense left the Czech team to a minimum of chances.
“They had a better line-up than at the Czech Games. The ice is also bigger here, but it’s the same for everyone. It is necessary to stick to the puck more and create more opportunities,” Filip Hronek nodded. His exclusion in the first period was punished by the team with an introductory goal, in the last second by a power play.
“In my opinion, it was a decisive moment,” said Pesan. “It has eroded our self-confidence and without mental strength the team will not win,” he said. Did the Czechs think that they are among the favorites of the World Cup, and could it hurt them? “We don’t want to admit it, we definitely don’t think about the end of the tournament,” replied the shooter of the first Czech goal Jakub Flek.
Peshan also spoke similarly after the defeat by the Russians. “No one will bring the medal to the hotel themselves. Losing is unpleasant, sorry and can affect the mood. But we have to be resilient. Whoever folds after the first match has nothing to do in this tournament,” said the 44-year-old coach.
The defeat is all the more saddening because the winning goal was served by the Czech opponents 19 seconds before the end after a bad substitution. Michal Moravčík drove the puck forward, but instead of throwing it all the way to the back guard, he just handed it over to Ivan Provorov. Three of his teammates took turns, Mikhail Grigorenko passed the Czechs on the left wing and hit the gallows exactly.
“At such a stage of the match we had to hold the puck. It was a bad decision and we paid for it,” Pešán regretted. “In general, we need to value the puck more, as we did in preparation. I didn’t see it there today,” he repeated.
The Russians scored the first goal in a power play, the second in their own weakening after a bad pass by Jakub Vrána. Lukáš Radil offered them the third when the blade came off his blade, and the fourth was talked about. “We handed them the puck three times out of four goals,” stated Pešán.
In addition, Sborná shot the goal several times, the goalkeeper Šimon Hrubec stopped 24 shots. “He caught a great match. But the Russians screened uncomfortably in front of the goal, on the contrary, we missed it,” said the coach.
Jakub Flek, Adam Musil and Jiří Smejkal named the performance of the fourth formation as positive. He also put its members into the game as often as possible. “They played the least timidly, I liked it,” he explained. “With one of the biggest favorites, or perhaps the biggest, we kept pace until the end. But otherwise there aren’t many positives,” he added.
Pešán told reporters that he would deploy Lukáš Klok and strikers Matěj Stránský and Radan Lenka in Saturday’s match against Switzerland (from 7:15 pm), which he saved on Friday. Michael Špaček, who shone in preparation alongside Stránský and Lenka, will also be written as a member of a full-fledged formation. Not as the thirteenth assailant, as was the case with the Russians.
Whether Hrubec will catch again or Roman Will will mark his first start at the World Championships, Pešán did not want to reveal yet. “We are clear, but I will keep it to myself,” he said.
“The Swiss are strong in keeping the system and attacking. We have to play completely differently and better than with the Russians,” the coach outlined towards an important Saturday duel. “We have to learn and throw the defeat behind our heads. There are still a lot of matches, we don’t allow any pressure,” Flek added.
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