today 11:29
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A quarter-final duel with Finland is already waiting for Slovak hockey players at the World Championships today. They will face a strong opponent and the winner of the group in the sold-out Nokia Arena in Tampere, where the favorite will drive almost 12,000 people forward.
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Ice Hockey World Championship: We know Slovakia’s quarter-final duel with Finland
Before lunch on the day of the match, all players underwent training, after which assistant coach Andrej Podkonický came before the journalists. The hall in Tampere is one of the most beautiful in Europe. It has a cube as big as a two-storey house and was opened only in December last year. What was her impression at first glance?
“She is beautiful. I was surprised that there is really very good ice compared to Helsinki. We are looking forward to the stadium and the atmosphere. She will be great. Players will enjoy it, even if the audience will support the Finns. Playing in front of such a backdrop will be an experience and it will definitely excite our players as well, ” Andrej Podkonický said.
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What is the mood in the team? Can you feel nervous? “It is not nervous yet, but it will be in the evening. As in every match. As coaches, we always say that when it will be easier, but it is always the same. During the match, the nervousness subsides, as do the players. They are ready and excited for the match. Let’s hope we succeed. “
What recipe can apply to the Finns, who in the entire basic group received only four goals in seven duels and did not collect even once in the last three matches? “The Danes also defended very well, but we started firing and the pucks started to fall on us, whether after the stops or the leaks. We have to shoot as much as possible, not play around. I watched the match between the Czech Republic and Finland. The Czechs only played it around their box and did not shoot.
We have to put everything on goal. We don’t make a lot of renumbering, because they defend really well. They have it reworked. We have to play as easily as possible, throw it at the goal and believe that something will fall there, ” Andrej Podkonický announced before the evening meeting.
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