"We follow the possible rivals in the playoffs": how the Russian hockey team is preparing for the match with Sweden at the World Cup

The day after the sixth consecutive victory at the World Championships in Slovakia, Russian hockey players held their first training session in preparation for the final group stage meeting with the Swedes. The exercise was mostly restorative after a tense and energy-intensive game with the Swiss.

The training session was scheduled at 2 pm local time, but the athletes arrived at the arena in advance. As a warm-up, the wards of Ilya Vorobyov who were in excellent mood again chose football. Initially, almost all hockey players took part in it, but quickly enough their number was reduced to six. In addition to the defenders Dmitry Orlov, Mikhail Sergachev, Nikita Zadorov and Nikita Nesterov, forwards Mikhail Grigorenko and Kirill Kaprizov remained with the ball.

As an amusement, the athletes even held an improvised three-for-three match, accompanied by an abundance of jokes from Orlov and Nesterov. Only rain prevented the meeting, which forced the players to go to the gym.

“We concentrate only on our performance”

At the end of the training, the head coach of the Russian national team, Ilya Vorobyov, shared his expectations from the match with Sweden, but did not disclose the plan for the key game of the group stage.

- What is the principle of today's training?

- To a large extent, she wore a restorative character after the match with Switzerland.

- Last year, the Russian team played against the Swedes in the decisive match of the group stage. What can you say about that meeting?

- It remains in memory that the opponent acted very interesting. But this year they also had a good team.

- Do you project a defeat of 4: 6 in Stockholm on the Euro Tour for the upcoming match?

- Absolutely not.

- Tomorrow will be Andrei Vasilevsky at the gate?

- We will think about the line-up on the day of the game.

- Several new players arrived in Sweden at once, and the Russian team plays the entire tournament with one composition. What is the reason?

- We are going our composition, which was formed in the run-up to the World Cup. They have chosen a different path.

- Watch for the struggle of Nikita Kucherov and William Nylander for the title of top scorer of the tournament?

- For us, only team goals are important.

- Head coach of the Swedish national team Ricard Grenborg called the Russian national team the main favorite for the world championship. Can you say that meeting with them is the most expected for you?

- The most expected match for us is the next one. So to speak is his right.

- Is Germany a priority quarter-final opponent for you?

- We want to please the fans by winning in every match.

- Yesterday the Swiss played hard enough against Kucherov. Should Swedish leaders, for example, Nullander and Landeskogu, expect such actions by the Russians?

- I will not disclose the game plan.

- Are you impressed by the fact that at the moment the Russian team missed only three goals in the group stage?

- Spit.

- Did the scouts of the national team go to Kosice?

- Yes, have already gone there. Will follow the possible rivals in the playoffs. But so far all our thoughts are focused on tomorrow's game.

- What are you most afraid of in the match against the Swedes?

- Why should we be afraid? We concentrate only on our performance.

- Did you discuss the episode with the removal of goalkeeper Alexander Georgiev?

- In my opinion, this has all been done. There is no living place.

📸 Hockey, football and friends all faces - brought a photo report from today's workout: https://t.co/l1mUUfS27D#

"We have an interesting meeting"

Center forward Sergei Andronov told who in the Swedish team is the most dangerous, and revealed the secret to the success of the Russians at the World Championships.

- Do you feel tired after two meetings in a row?

- Yes, but today was an opportunity to recover.

- The team has played football for the second time. How does it help to relax?

- Relieves from an emotional point of view, changing the type of activity.

- Who plays the best football in the national team?

- Cyril Whims.

- Do you discuss the upcoming match within the team? What is your opinion about the opponent?

- Yes, we have an interesting meeting. The Swedes have a good selection of players of the playoff level. Especially since the last match ended with our defeat.

- Who in the national team of Sweden, in your opinion, can deliver the most problems?

- The entire line of attack is quite dangerous, they include very skilled hockey players, leaders of their teams.

- You act in one link with Ilya Kovalchuk. Have you already managed to learn something from an experienced attacker?

- He plays very interesting, can always come up with something in the attack. My task is to help him in defense, so that Ilya would have the strength to attack.

- How did your team manage to achieve this performance at the World Cup?

- We are always ready to help each other, we do everything together, and this is paying off. Thank God, it turns out to throw and not to miss.

- Due to what the team managed to miss only three goals in six games?

- We have very reliable goalkeepers. This gives players confidence in the attack. Defense lines need to be added in some aspects, but overall, everything is fine.

- There are no concerns because everything is going so well?

- Of course, no, you just have to rejoice. Especially since there are good rivals and interesting matches.

- Kucherov claims to be the top scorer of the world championship. Do you discuss this in a team?

- I don’t think he thinks about it. On the ice Nikita acts depending on the result. Can run back back faster than defenders, helps his partners. It is unlikely that he is aimed solely at throwing washers.