“Switzerland vs Czech Republic: Can Switzerland Maintain World Cup Dominance in Riga?”

The 6th nation in the IIHF index, namely Switzerland, against the 7th, the Czech Republic. Close in the world rankings, the 2 teams are also close in Latvia. But the Helvetians, on the strength of their 5 wins in a row and their considerable contingent of “NHLers”, leave a priori with the favors of the odds.

In their last clashes during major tournaments, the “boys” of Fischer indeed remain on 2 victories against Michael Spacek (26 years old) and Cie: during the round of 16 at the Beijing Olympics 2022 (4-2) and during the 2021 World Championship, also in Riga (5-2).

In addition, the best Czech NHL attackers, namely David Pastrnak, David Krejci and Pavel Zacha (Boston), Martin Necas (Carolina) or Tomas Hertl (San Jose), to name a few, are not present in Latvia. Worse for the Reprezentace, Filip Chytil (New York Rangers) had to return home after being injured in the 5-1 victory against Kazakhstan.

Admittedly, the Czech Republic, coached by the Finn Kari Jalonen (ex-Bern), is still a big chunk. Spacek, whose role in the national team is however less offensive than with Ambri Piotta, will certainly want to help prove this assertion. For his first year in Ticino, the former Manitoba AHL striker scored 50 points, including 14 goals, in 50 regular season games. In Riga, during his 3rd participation in a World Championship, however, he only has 2 assists in 5 games.

Kubalik and Cervenka are beautiful to watch

RTSsport.ch: For you, place in Switzerland now. How do you approach this duel against the leader of group B?

MICHAEL SPACEK: It will be a difficult part. All the teams are hard to face in this World Cup. Switzerland has a lot of good players, we know that.

RTSsport.ch: In the not so distant past, there was no comparison between the Czech Republic, whose last world title dates back to 2010, and Switzerland. But currently, the 2 formations are more or less of the same level, with a slight advantage for the Swiss on paper. You confirm?

MICHAEL SPACEK: Yes, it’s 2023, right? All the teams have progressed. We know it will be complicated. They have a good team, but so do we. It will be a fun game to watch.

RTSsport.ch: In attack, the Czech Republic depends mainly on Dominik Kubalik (Detroit) and Cervenka. We can say that these are your main “weapons”?

MICHAEL SPACEK: They are excellent players. They have an incredible shot. Cervenka is a very smart center, a real playmaker who is also capable of scoring. They are beautiful to watch play.

Missing the playoffs with Ambri, it was not easy to digest

RTSsport.ch: There are no less than 5 National League players in the “Reprezentace”: Zurich goalkeeper Simon Hrubec, Michal Jordan and Roman Cervenka who play at Rapperswil, your teammate at Ambri Filip Chlapik, and yourself.

MICHAEL SPACEK: Yes and?

RTSsport.ch: Well, it’s relatively rare to see so many players from the Swiss championship in the Czech team.

MICHAEL SPACEK: It means that the level of the National League is quite good, apparently. I’m happy to play it.

RTSsport.ch: Looking back, how do you view Ambri Piotta and the past season?

MICHAEL SPACEK: We got off to a good start. But then there were a lot of ups and downs. Our goal was to qualify for the playoffs, but we didn’t achieve it. It was not easy to digest for me, because I really wanted to dispute them. Hopefully we’ll get there next season…

From Riga, Michaël Taillard