How do you feel about health?
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It was an unpleasant blow, but nothing would stop me. I’m ready to play on Thursday.
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Did Tuesday’s break benefit you?
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I would be ready for the Finns as well, but for preventive reasons we agreed with the coaches that we would not take any risks. We were already sure of the quarterfinals, there was nothing in the quotes and we found it useless to catch another shot.
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How did you see the last Czech match in the group from the auditorium?
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A classic match with the Finns, it was mainly about winning their defenses. They took a chance, but unfortunately we didn’t. We have to improve this, in elimination matches we could be sorry for what we throw in the goals.
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Do you consider Germany as the most acceptable opponent from group A?
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I haven’t talked much about it, I haven’t seen or played them yet. The video is still waiting for us. The loss is certainly the injury of Stützle, who may have been my teammate in the Sharks, but San Jose then dropped the position of the draft to Ottawa in exchange for Erik Karlsson. When I called my dad, he told me that the Germans usually win by a narrow goal. They have a great Grubauer goalkeeper from Seattle. It will be a big test for us if we can get through it.
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How important will it be for the Czech team to maintain a winning mentality?
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We have to be set up in the morning so that we take nothing but win. Get a good night’s sleep, warm up, have lunch, and keep in mind that it can’t be over. If we admitted negative thoughts or went crazy, flying ice on the ice and jumping out of the system, we would dig our own grave.
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In the duel, Czech forward David Patsrňák (right) and Finnish quarterback Niklas Friman.Photo: Michal Kamaryt, CTK
Can anyone score the first goal against Germany?
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This is undoubtedly an advantage, but even with a 1-0 lead it is still tense. The opponent stays within range and feels the chance. But we have to help ourselves with a power play, Spinach (assistant coach Erat) and the boys who go to them are working hard on it. It will also be important to be patient, not to panic and trust your own game. We have a good system and if everyone follows it and does what they have to do, we will change the chances, we will manage.
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But isn’t that a big expectation?
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A lot of people in our country think that we have to go one hundred percent to the Germans to fight for medals. But the opponent already showed his quality by advancing from the group of second place, he also tormented Switzerland and was the only one to take him points. He also has other great players, defender Seider of Detroit or young Reichel, who had an average point per game on a Chicago farm. But if we play responsibly in defense, Kája will hold us in the back and we will change some of the chances, so maybe we should manage.
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In the last two matches, however, the Czech team scored only one goal. Doesn’t that scare you?
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We have enough experienced players in the team that even this does not destroy us, even if it is not a very good business card that we will score a single goal in 120 minutes. Especially when we have such quality players in the attack who are able to make points. But it is already so, and in order for it to break, we must go against it. I read the interview with Hertlík and said it correctly. Walking more into the goal, sending it from all positions and making the position uncomfortable for the goalkeeper so that he doesn’t see the pucks too much. That’s the way to win.
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What do you say to the afternoon start of the quarterfinal duel?
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I don’t care. We play in San Jose all year at 7:30 in the evening, so we always have skating in the morning, but the afternoon start requires a different regime. Let’s go for a walk, in such a looser rhythm. The important thing is to keep your head occupied before the opening bulls fall.
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Czech defenders (from left) Michal Kempný and Tomáš Kundrátek pacify Finnish forward Juha Lammikek.Photo: Michal Kamaryt, CTK
You have already played the quarterfinals twice at the World Cup. Can you remember them yet?
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Yeah Al that sounds pretty crap to me, Looks like Matts aint for me either. A year later we fell 0: 3 with Russia in Paris, where the opponent had a very good team led by Kučerov. By the third, I will hopefully be on the winning side after the quarterfinal duel and hear the Czech anthem.
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