Coach Patrick Fischer and his gamers go to the semi-finals of the World Cup in opposition to Canada filled with confidence (from 6:20 pm). The group impresses as a cohesive unit within the Czech Republic.
Kevin Fiala (left) is likely one of the standout gamers within the World Cup and is on his approach to the All-Star staff.
The Czech Republic appears to be a superb place for Switzerland and the nation’s ice hockey staff. In 1992, the Swiss defeated Germany 3-1 within the quarter last of the World Cup in Prague and returned to the general public eye for the primary time after many years of defeat and humiliation. Now it was one other 3-1 win in opposition to Germany on Thursday, however this time in Ostrava, 300 kilometers away from Prague, which freed them from their quarter-final woes and Germany as a formidable opponent.
It was the primary win for the Swiss in opposition to the Germans in a extremely necessary recreation after 4, generally painful, defeats. Last 12 months’s last in Riga known as every part mainly: the work of the coach, the standard of the league, the efficiency of the gamers.
All criticism appears to have been eliminated
All that now appears to have been erased. The Swiss will face Canada once more on Saturday of their first semi-final since 2018 in Copenhagen (from 6:20 pm). Six years in the past, the Swiss have been unstoppable and entered the ultimate in opposition to Sweden with a 3-2 win, which they misplaced on penalties.
And what’s coming this 12 months? Patrick Fischer mentioned after the win in opposition to Germany {that a} weight had been lifted from his coronary heart. “I’m very pleased with my staff.” He was not afraid that this recreation will finish because it occurred three years in the past regardless that he was main 2-0.
Of course there have been robust moments too, just like the one instantly after Dominik Kahun’s aim. “But we stayed calm, we blocked the photographs and all of us fought for one another. I’m pleased for everybody who by no means misplaced religion in us.”
The Swiss are significantly spectacular within the Czech Republic as a cohesive unit. From begin to end, all gamers work collectively. Fischer joked that he was once an offensive lineman. Today that self-defense is essential to success. The Swiss nationwide ice hockey staff is in the midst of a tremendous course of. In the final 4 years of the World Cup competitions, it has misplaced 4 out of 28 video games within the group stage; 3 times it completed this stage of the competitors in one of many prime two locations.
Headcoach of Switzerland Patrick Fischer reacts in the course of the Ice Hockey World Championship quarterfinal match between Switzerland and Germany in Ostrava at Ostravar Arena, Czech Republic, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (KEYSTONE/Peter Schneider)
Now the Swiss have lastly cleared the quarter-final stage once more. The reward for it is a duel with Canada, the nation of ice hockey. Canadians could not be the dominant energy they as soon as have been. For many years, solely the Soviet Union and later the Russians may pose a severe menace to them. Ice hockey has modified quite a bit as a result of opening of the NHL and its rising demand for gamers, particularly from Europe. In latest years, the Swedes and Finns have additionally received titles repeatedly.
But the Canadians stay the world champions with a report 28 titles. They additionally received the ultimate in opposition to Germany final 12 months in Tampere. Your staff in Prague has many workers. But completely prime stars like Nathan MacKinnon from Colorado or Connor McDavid from Edmonton should not there, in addition to one of the best defender, Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks. The best-known participant on the staff might be Toronto’s John Tavares, who performed briefly for SC Bern in the course of the 2012-13 offseason.
But the NHL’s most constant participant in recent times is on the Swiss staff. Roman Josi isn’t solely a assured defender in Nashville, but in addition a daily scorer. Last season, the 33-year-old from Bern scored 88 targets. This is the very best complete even abroad.
The gamers need to “get pleasure from” the semi-final
Josi is likely one of the explanation why the Swiss are something however outsiders who don’t have any probability in opposition to the top-ranked Canadians on Saturday. The tenor participant within the Swiss staff agrees with one voice: “We need to get pleasure from this recreation.” Much of the previous is buried within the assertion; Repeated defeats within the quarter-finals and the media protection they created left a mark. Fischer says: “The undeniable fact that we have been at all times bumping into the quarter-finals did not simply cross us by.”
The coach mentioned on Thursday it was time to take a deep breath and luxuriate in. But then we proceed. You’re simply not pleased that you simply’re nonetheless right here. Zuger’s confidence lies within the certainty of getting a staff that nobody wants to cover from. Apart from Josi, this staff additionally consists of Nico Hischier, who scores targets frequently, Nino Niederreiter, who can defy any opponent along with his bodily recreation, and naturally Kevin Fiala, this sneaky participant who’s on his approach to changing into an All-Star. World Cup staff and he was a key participant within the 2:3 within the first spherical in opposition to the Canadians along with his two targets and a controversial five-minute penalty.
But for the reason that quarterfinal victory over Germany it has turn into clear: This staff is greater than a collection of the Swiss NHL supplemented by a couple of gamers from the National League. The winners of the match on Thursday have been the 2 goalscorer Christoph Bertschy and the goalkeeper Leonardo Genoni, two gamers who play for Fribourg-Gottéron and EV Zug in Switzerland. And they need to not disguise it from anybody.