The Blues believed in a real feat. Opposed to Switzerland, untouchable since the start of the 2022 World Cup, for their penultimate match in the competition, Philippe Bozon’s players were able to put the right ingredients on the ice in Helsinki. After a little less than five minutes of play, on an individual action, Alexandre Texier gave the advantage to the France team. After having resisted in numerical inferiority, following the exit for two minutes of Sacha Treille for having hooked a Swiss player, Valentin Claireaux went in turn to deceive the Swiss goalkeeper Reto Barra. With Alexandre Texier and Tim Bozon in the pass, the Mlada Boleslav striker did not miss the opportunity to make the break. Less than 30 seconds after this second achievement, Kévin Bozon was illegally stopped by Andrea Glauser when he was going to appear alone against the Swiss selection goalkeeper. The sanction was a penalty shot which Alexandre Texier took care of. However, the Columbus Blue Jackets player failed in his duel with Reto Barra. As tension mounted on the ice, this error was the turning point of the game.
Despite a brilliant first third, the French team lost 5 goals to 2 against Switzerland, which continued its clear round in this group A.
Tricolor goals signed @atexier99 et @VClaireaux 🎯#SUIFRA pic.twitter.com/XklvraNAI7
– France Hockey teams (@Hockey_FRA) May 22, 2022
The Blues missed the boat
Indeed, 25 seconds after the restart in the second period, Nico Hischier, launched by Timo Meier and Dean Kukan, sent Sebastian Ylönen to seek the puck in his net. If their indiscipline did not lead to consequence, the Blues could not resist the power of the Swiss. On an action initiated by Tobias Geisser and Nico Hischier, Damien Riat equalized just under eight minutes from the end of the second period. In the process, after Florian Chakiachvili’s exit for two minutes for a cross shot, Andres Ambuhl went to deceive the vigilance of Sebastian Ylönen on passes from Enzo Corvi and Dean Kukan to give the advantage to Switzerland. The latter went there with his goal nine minutes from the end of the meeting, launched by Fabrice Herzog and Enzo Corvi. At the very end of the match, Philippe Bozon went all out with the exit of his goalkeeper but the empty cage turned in favor of the Swiss. Nico Hischier sealed the fate of the meeting, offset by Fabrice Herzog and Andres Ambuhl. With this sixth victory in as many games (5-2), Switzerland continues to top Group A when France, beaten for the fourth time in this World Cup, is no longer in contention for the quarter-finals. However, the maintenance objective being reached, the rest is only a bonus.
ICE HOCKEY – WORLDS 2022 (M) / GROUP A
Sunday, May 22, 2022
Kazakhstan – Germany : 4-5
Suisse – France : 5-2
Group A standings
1- Switzerland 18 points
2- Germany 15
3- Canada 12
4- Denmark 9
5- Slovakia 9
6– France 5
7- Italy 1
8- Kazakhstan 0
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