The Czech Republic has shown its ice hockey team its limits.Image: trapezoid
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Switzerland has lost two of its three games in Helsinki. But unlike the past two years, national team coach Patrick Fisher is no longer facing criticism after the “International Operetta” defeat.
Argumentative? criticize? No. Switzerland have lost two of their three games at the Karjala Cup in Helsinki. But it was the most interesting, if not the most dramatic, appearance since replacing Russia on the European Hockey Tour in the fall of 2022. Helsinki showed the limits of our hockey wonders in the first three games after the World Cup final.
They are boundaries, not excuses. The statistics prove it: 29,360 people play hockey in our country. There are 66,687 in Finland, 61,547 in Sweden and 34,341 in the Czech Republic. So our base is much smaller, which is why three World Cup finals in 2013, 2018 and 2024 or Servet's victory in the Champions Hockey League deserve to be called a hockey miracle.
Servetus won the Hockey League championship last season.Image: trapezoid
On Thursday in Helsinki, the Swiss delivered on the dividend of the World Cup final against scrappy hosts: that dividend was a newfound self-confidence, reflected in a strong defensive performance. Meanwhile, Stéphane Charlin (24) raised hopes in this extra-time (2:3) win over Finland that without Leonardo Geno Without Leonardo Genoni (37 years old), the 2026 home World Cup can also be held smoothly.
Saturday's penalty shootout against Sweden confirmed that. First victory over this opponent in eight and a half years, or sixteen defeats. Gillessen showed in his 21st international match that maybe he too can be a proper World Cup goalkeeper: he shook off mistakes like water on a dog's hair (resulting in 3-3), saving all points The ball made victory possible (4:3).
We saw tactically and otherwise convincing performances in the first two games in Helsinki: we can meet the European giants on an equal footing with the best teams in the league.
Stefan Charlin impressed against Finland.Picture: www.imago-images.de
The Swiss team gained the most from the first two games. On Sunday we take on the Czech Republic in the World Cup final and see just how thin the ice is for our hockey wonders. They lost 2:5, and the reason for their failure was already obvious. Sports and politics.
Three World Cup silver medal heroes and the most talented Swiss forwards in the league left: defenders Dean Kukan and Christian Marty and forwards Denis Malkin and Sven Andreto. You need to take a breather. It's a kowtow to the club's owners: On Tuesday, the ZSC Lions will face the seemingly overwhelming Tigers from Straubing away from home in the Champions Hockey League at the Pulvertum Arena. National team coach Patrick Fisher had to give in to the wishes of the autonomous National League clubs.
Dennis Malkin and Sven Andrigetto were absent from the national team on Sunday.Image: trapezoid
Controversial question: How much influence does chairman Stefan Scherer actually have, and who should represent the association's interests in the league? Does it really make sense to fly to Helsinki with a team that won't even be together for three games?
But let's not argue. With these four ZSC titans, Patrick Fisher's side lost speed and creativity (Malkin), goal threat (Andrigetto), dueling power, drainage and intimidation ability (Marty), and defence. Minister (Kukan).
Patrick Fisher is reshaping the entire Storm line. Automaticity, precision, dueling intensity and defensive stability are at least partially lost. There were too many machine room failures at the Swiss race. The 5-2 defeat was a logical outcome, but brought at least two highlights: Servetus defender Giancarlo Chandon (21) scored his second goal in just his third international match. He is a promising candidate for the 2026 World Cup in Zurich and Friborg. Andres Ambühl (41) scored his 55th goal in his 338th international match and remains a candidate for the 2026 World Cup, but Stefan Challin (Stéphane Charlin) was just an average goalkeeper against the Czech Republic, conceding three not entirely unsustainable goals in the first third and is already a candidate for the 2026 World Cup. Leave a spot for Gilles Senn. Ultimately, is it impossible to host the 2026 World Cup without Leonardo Genoni?
At least there is one positive after-effect of the 2024 World Cup final: National team coach Patrick Fisher is no longer subject to criticism and controversy for his failure in the operetta international competition. The new silver medal glory cemented and cemented his authority, and the limitations of our hockey wonders were no longer to be blamed on him. But the external environment is something that neither he nor the Gods of Hockey can change. Patrick Fisher was thus “acquitted.”
HCD, SCB, ZSC and ? These clubs have become Swiss hockey champions
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HCD, SCB, ZSC and ? These clubs have become Swiss hockey champions
Davos Forum: 31 titles, 6 since 1986; last title: 2015.
Those: keystone/ennio Leanza
Despacito and ice hockey players
Video: Watson
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In the 14th round of the top match, Servetus drew 1-1 with Zurich. Zurich's lead lasted only a few minutes.
The most important thing at the Stade de Genève happened a few minutes before half-time. First, Breedian Krasnic's long-range shot in the 39th minute surprised Geneva goalkeeper Jeremy Flick. Zurich's first dangerous move was Servette's reaction in first-half stoppage time. Miroslav Stevanovic passes a wonderful pass to Timothé Cognat. This deceived goalkeeper Yanick Brecher with the unconscious help of two FCZ centre-backs.
