"We lost, there is no mysticism in it"
Russian national team players did not hide their disappointment from defeat in the semifinal match with Finland. The leaders and stars of the team - Alexander Ovechkin, Yevgeny Malkin, Ilya Kovalchuk and Nikita Kucherov - did not find an explanation for their failure and immediately after the final siren followed the journalists, keeping silence.
For teammates reported young hockey players. So, Kirill Kaprizov, the forward of the national team and CSKA Moscow, was one of the first to answer the reporters' questions. The forward, recognized as the best player of the semi-final match in the Russian national team, said that the team itself was to blame for the mistakes that led to the defeat.
"Everything is very simple. We had to score. It seems they tried, they created moments, but zero sense. With zero, as you know, no one wins matches. It is a pity that only in the third period received a majority, but nothing can be done. Can you say that they lost in the case? We need to review the moments of the game. Let's do it, ”said the Olympic champion.
The journalists reminded the hockey player that eight years ago, also in Bratislava, the Russian team lost to their current opponent a step away from the final. However, Caprice refused to develop the theme of the negative statistics of his team.
“Finnish curse? I do not know. Well, what a curse can be, we just lost, there is no mysticism in it! ”- the forward admitted.
At the end of his speech, Caprices estimated the individual qualities of the stars of the Finnish team and admitted that in general the Finnish national team did not surprise the Russian team at all.
“We knew their style and manner, so we waited for such a viscous game. Lankinen played great, helped out a lot of his own and in many ways decided the outcome of the meeting. I will also highlight Anttila. But in general, it is their common merit. The team wins, she loses too, not individual players, ”the attacker summed up.
The mood and opinion of Kaprizov was shared by Nikita Zaitsev. Defender "Toronto" admitted mistakes in the game of his line and said that the Russian team did not cope with the task set at the tournament.
“When the Finns scored us, we lost the puck, and she unsuccessfully bounced. Absolutely unnecessary and inexplicable loss. In general, there are questions about our actions, because we acted absolutely uncollected. Is there a feeling that this is not what we counted on this World Cup? Of course! ”Said Zaitsev.
Nikita Gusev spoke about the missed opportunities after the match. According to the attacker, the players of the Russian national team until recently believed that they could return equality to the scoreboard.
Photos from the game against the Finns in the semifinals of the World Cup (0: 1): https://t.co/XhZ2XYaghE
Ahead of the match for the bronze! # Dneapiespicpic.twitter.com / Dq0k2TK2hF
“We knew that it would be difficult, we were preparing for the fact that we would have to open their defenses, but we thought that we would still solve this issue. It was necessary to climb to the end and push the puck into the goal. We tried to invent some complicated combinations, to win at least due to this, since there were no goals, ”the striker explained.
At the same time, according to Gusev, the Finnish national team did not show anything supernatural on the ice.
“Hockey in their performance was, to put it mildly, a little, but they were all the same great, that they won, we give them their due! Our main mistake? So far it is hard to say, we will understand, ”the forward said.
Mikhail Sergachev also drew attention to the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent’s game. The defender praised the Finnish team for discipline, but he called the puck random.
“We missed some nonsense, in fact. What is this goal at all? They are just lucky that the puck is so bounced. True, the Finns played very well in defense and did not let our attackers play at full strength. So all that they remember is a game in defense, they are not able to do anything else. The game is in defense and this goal, that's all that they could. True, that was enough to win, ”the Russian defender said.
Sergachev also admitted that, despite the status of the match, the Russian team had no excitement before the game.
“For such a strong team, how are we not going to the final - failure? I do not know, talk to the coach. But today we were absolutely calm on the ice, the pressure was before the quarterfinals with the USA, and we were ready for the Finns, ”Sergachev admitted.
However, part of the Russian national team players did not share the opinions of their partners regarding the modest possibilities of their rivals from Finland. Defender "Washington" Dmitry Orlov praised wards Jukka Yalonena and said that the Finns tactically surpassed his team.
“There was no underestimation of the opponent, and it could not be. They are strong! We had a good tournament, beat the strong Swedes. I like that they achieve success at the expense of their system and discipline. True and without good luck it did not go here, today the stars were on their side. Fortune cheated us, there was not enough time and chances for a goal, even if it was dirty and ugly. Of course, we dreamed of playing in the final, it's a pity that these plans failed to materialize, ”Orlov admitted.
Appreciation of the game the first finalist of the current World Cup and put Andrei Vasilevsky. The Russian goalkeeper admitted that the Finns had created a lot of problems for him.
“They did a great job, they played just great! They ran over us, did not let us do anything. When an opponent behaves this way it is very difficult to play, so it was clear from the match that one puck would be enough to resolve questions about the final, ”the FHR press service quotes Vasilevsky.
“To beat Russia in the semi-finals?” Of course, it's very cool! ”
The polar mood reigned in the camp of the Finnish national team. Suomi players did not hide their joy from victory and actively celebrated reaching the final.
Goalkeeper Kevin Lankinen, who kept his goal intact, admitted that the victory over the star team of the Russian team was not easy for his team. In this case, the goalkeeper is confident that the hardest match of the tournament was left behind.
“To beat Russia in the semifinals? Of course, this is very cool! But we were not afraid of these stars. We went through the tournament and believed that any opponent could afford us. In general, the game was fun, I think it will help us to play successfully in the final.
We are ready for a decisive match, we will show there everything that we can do! ”- the goalkeeper shared his emotions.
According to representatives of the Finnish national team, success in meeting with Russia was achieved thanks to teamwork and mutual understanding on the ice. So, striker Kaapo Kakko stressed that the Russian team was not helped by the abundance of star players representing the leading clubs of the NHL.
“Yes, our squad is more modest and we have no leaders from the NHL. But look, this is not enough to win! Russian stars could not score a single goal to us, although there is also the merit of the goalkeeper, who played just brilliantly. We have achieved victory at the expense of unity. They acted like a single fist! ”Kakko told reporters.
Following Kakko, defender Petteri Lindbom expressed his gratitude to his goalkeeper. The hockey player spoke about the preparations for the match with Russia, and admitted that his team was preparing to contain the Russian strikers.
“Initially, we knew that you had to be very careful with the guys from Russia. They are able to create a dangerous moment from the air, so it's a great luck that we were able to block all their attempts. Yes, I understand that we are a little lucky today, but we have shown that we can fight with strong teams in this tournament, ”Lindbom summed up the match.
The captain of the Finnish national team and the author of the only goal, Marco Anttila, after team-mates, thanked Lankinen for a dry match and noted that his team has no time to celebrate success - the Finnish national team needs to prepare for the final match.
“Won due to the fact that they adhered to their system. I do not consider myself a hero of the day, because besides my puck the team had moments for scoring. But our goalkeeper is really a hero, his confidence helped us a lot on the ice. Russia is as strong as anybody, lucky that one was enough to win. Now all thoughts of Sunday's match. We will do everything in our power, ”summarized the Finnish hockey player.