SPORT The Minsk Times Thursday, May 29, 2014 11 Russian triumph closes event “The Russian national team have come to Minsk to win gold”. This was told by the coaching staff even before the beginning of the tournament, and they began to prove their words from the first match — 9 victories and only 7 missed goals. It seemed that with such impressive figures, only the need to actually run the final prevented them from just taking champion title. However, in practice, ’s advantage didn’t look so unquestioned. Firstly, the Finns have already proven many times at this tournament that they are able to play, if not spectacularly, then very rationally and efficiently. Secondly, the Russians were playing against the ‘Suomi’ squad without Oleg Znarok. The coach, disqualified for an offensive gesture towards the Swedish assistant coach, Rikard Grönborg, was watching his team play from the sidelines. According to Mr. Znarok however, this circumstance only motivated his players more.

By Dmitry Baranovsky as the Head Coach in the final match. The match was very The Russian squad are spectacular. The Finns played the world champions, achiev- very actively and were fighting ing their tenth victory in a till the very end. Our players row in the final of the tourna- have done well, able to equalise ment that has now finished in the score and then to win this Minsk. Oleg Znarok’s team has match. earned what they were said What can you say about they would get in the Belaru- Finnish players today? sian capital — gold medals. We expected that the Finns Some saw either a suc- would play very actively. Al- cessful turn of circumstances though everyone was saying or fate in the fact that the that the Finns will primar- last test on the Minsk ice was ily concentrate on defence, they taken by the Russians and started very powerfully, but we Finns. Several months ago, were ready for this. Both teams at the Sochi Olympics, it was have played worthily today. the Finns who left the hosts How did you communi- empty handed, beating them cate with Znarok during the in the quarterfinal. In practice, match? the final of the Minsk cham- He connected with his as- pionship was rather objective, sistants and we advised with with the world’s two strongest BELTA him what can be improved in teams taking part in it. Moreo- Russian national team hasn’t lost a single match at the World Championship in Minsk the game. Some information ver, they were super-motivated “The Finns are not great ing the press conference when through the night, while the It’s difficult to answer that. was present constantly. How- after their meeting at the be- provocateurs, but it seems that answering the question about hospitality zone was already The Russian team has received ever, the game was very quick ginning of the current tour- before the match they received refereeing, “No comment. The taking down the decorations a lot of time to play in major- and it was almost impossible nament. Therefore, despite a directive to ‘catch’ us and try game can’t be won from the near the Minsk-Arena. The ity and used this circumstance, to improve something through the fact that after 60 minutes to provoke silly removals. At box.” World Championship is over, though we could also win even this way. For me it was new of play, the board displayed first, we ‘were tricked’ by this, Nevertheless, before the and has already occupied its in this situation. experience. It was necessary to figures that were shocking to but then managed to switch final whistle, the Finns were worthy place in the history of Can you assess the organ- concentrate more and to under- the Finns — 5:2, the Russians back to the game again,” noted trying to find an opportunity world hockey. isation of the World Champi- stand the changes. did have difficulties in gaining Artem Anisimov in the mix- to reduce the gap, forcing the onship in Minsk? What did you change at their gold. zone. Russian players to admit after Press conference Everything was perfect! the moment when the Finns It took rather a long time As if predicting Artem the end of the match, “Despite Erkka Westerlund, head Starting with the transport and took the lead? for Finland’s national team to Anisimov’s revelations in the score, we had to play at coach of the national team of finishing with the conditions for Ovechkin’s helped us ‘pick up speed’, but they finally the mix-zone, Znarok wasn’t breaking until the very Finland: training and matches. greatly. No one even remembers began to demonstrate men’s anxious too long. Alexander last minute. This champion- Of course, I congratulate This was your last match when Alexander last scored and champions’ hockey on the Ovechkin and Yevgeny Mal- ship had already seen miracu- the Russian squad. They are a as the head coach of Finland’s from directly in front of the Belarusian ice. The struggle kin required only ten min- lous escapes.” perfect team. national squad. What feel- net. He usually scores his point was tough, and was interrupt- utes in order to overtake the But this time, no miracu- We saw the Russian ings do you have? somewhere on the side. Proba- ed by fist fights. Meanwhile, Finns, who were trying to find lous escape happened, and the coach on the ice during the I received great pleasure. I’d bly, at this moment, each player the Finns managed to not only a way to return their advan- final signal of the Minsk Cham- award ceremony. Did he have like to thank the hockey players tried to find some reserves. equalize the score and ‘smooth’ tage on the ice. They failed! In pionship was met with an in- the right to take part in the and the Ice Hockey Federation Which impressions do the starting pressure of the the third period, the goals by credible roar from the stadium ceremony? for this time and this opportu- you have from the stands? Russians, but even go ahead, Danis Zaripov and Victor Tik- which didn’t stop until the Rus- I don’t think about such nity. I haven’t ever seen anything making the disqualified Rus- honov established the final de- sian players and Oleg Znarok, things. I think about the game. Harijs Vītoliņš, assistant similar at any other champi- sian head coach, Oleg Znarok feat of the Finnish squad. Only who appeared unexpectedly Is there’s a difference be- head coach of the national onship. I haven’t ever seen so very nervous as he watched Ovechkin delivered the puck on the ice, disappeared in the tween the national team of team of Russia: many fans or so much support. the match from the VIP-box while playing in equal lines- locker-room. One can’t doubt Russia which you defeated in The game was very dif- It enabled us to feel like we were and dictated the actions of his up, causing Erkka Westerlund that the Russian holiday con- Sochi and the one which beat ficult. For me it was like ‘snow at home at every match. This team using a walkie-talkie. to lift his hands in dismay dur- tinued in the Belarusian capital you here, in Minsk? in summer’: to accept the team was something incredible. Ex-champions were satisfied with bronze By Igor Grishin farewell World Championship in defensive formations of the Swedish the final, and the great Czech player team, twice outnumbering the con- Such matches in general are did not plan to leave Minsk without tenders on the number of shots on seldom played at half strength, awards. The match was further in- goals. But in practice, this impressing but national teams of Sweden triguing by the fact that Swedish team statistic did not represent any serious and the Czech Republic have BELTA had to play without the assistant head threat. The overwhelming majority Captain of the Swedish national squad, Joel Lundqvist both approached the battle coach. Rikard Grönborg was disquali- of shots were stopped by the defend- for bronze at the World fied for foul language against head ers, while those which were on goal ous threat. In a mixed zone, Jaromír for Alexander Salák’s performance, Championship very motivated coach of the Russian national team, were easily blocked by Anders Nils- Jágr was the last player remaining, the score could have been much and active Oleg Znarok. son, confirming his status of one of having spent almost an hour talking more impressive. All these ‘ifs’ and For the Scandinavians, the tour- In a match for medals, the Scan- the best goalkeepers in the tourna- to the journalists who surrounded ‘buts’, however, remain on the ice of nament has been unsuccessful. They dinavians did not give any chances to ment. Even Jaromír Jágr was not able him, he did not look at all upset, hav- the Minsk-Arena. The history books arrived in Minsk as defending cham- the Czech hockey players, winning to save the situation. Carrying out, by ing declared, that he and his partners will display the names of the players pions and therefore defeat in a ‘con- 3:0. It is important to note, that the his own admission, his last match as are not ashamed of this tournament. of the Swedish national team, and solatory’ match for ‘bronze’ would be activity of the Czechs was recognised a part of the Czech Republic national The Swedes were also happy. They, they will be written in bronze letter. considered a real failure. The Czechs at an after-match conference, even by team, the well-known forward par- unlike their contenders, attacked less And it is necessary to note, that even were also very upset by their results the Head Coach of the Swedish team, ticipated in a number of dangerous often, but more powerfully, and in an with a very young squad, they made, in the semi-final against Finland. Par Marts. From the first minutes, the moments near the net of Nilsson, organised way. Three times their ac- in Minsk, a serious claim for future Jaromír Jágr expected to finish his Czechs actively put pressure on the but he really did not represent a seri- tions brought success. However, if not success.