"When the opponent plays defensively, we have problems": what did they say after the Russia - Germany match at MFM-2021

The Russian national team defeated the national team of Germany and overcame the first hurdle of the playoffs of the youth world championship.

Nevertheless, the final result is unlikely to satisfy both the fans and the coaching staff of the “red car”.

The minimum difference in the score, problems with implementation and a tense ending blurred the impression of the fact that the national team for the 22nd time in history made it to the semifinals of the championship among hockey players under 20 years old.

“The match is not easy.

It was expected to be a difficult game.

We understood that we would act as the first number.

It was necessary to play actively in the attacking zone, but not always tightly covered in defense.

The guys are great, they survived.

This is youth hockey, not everything always works out, "- said the head coach of the Russian national team Igor Larionov on the air of Match TV.

During the press conference, the journalists expectedly asked the mentor to compare the matches between the national teams of Germany and the Czech Republic.

In the course of both, the Russian team had a solid advantage, but failed to realize their chances.

True, if at the group stage such extravagance led to defeat, then in the quarterfinals they managed to keep the winning score.

“The fact is that we cannot realize the moments that we create.

There are killer episodes, you have to hit the target, but we do not.

It's always easier to play defensively than attacking.

This problem is not only among the youth.

The task of this team is to create moments, traffic in front of the gate.

We need to look for options so that there is a presence on a penny to hinder the goalkeeper.

You have to understand that the meeting is not easy.

Whoever you play with in the quarterfinals is a tremendous experience.

We are trying to liberate the guys so that they enjoy the game, "- quotes Larionov" Championship ".

At the same time, the mentor did not strongly criticize the charges and blame them for not the most confident victory over the Germans.

On the contrary, Larionov chided his opponents for preferring to work in a closed manner.

“We always have questions - about the return, about the connections.

We will take it apart.

Maybe there was no whole picture, but there was no underestimation of the opponent, I have already spoken about this earlier.

The game, when the opponent plays defensively, creates problems for us.

Hockey with Czechs and Germans is less comfortable for us.

Youth hockey should be more attacking and romantic, ”the coach said.

On the eve of the meeting, the main striking force of the Bundestim was the first link, whose representatives were included in the top 5 best scorers of the youth championship.

Two of them distinguished themselves this time as well.

John-Jason Peterka and Florian Elias organized the only goal against Yaroslav Askarov, and their partner Tim Stüzle had some excellent opportunities to restore parity.

“The opponent is serious, we understood that there are many good guys and scorers.

You cannot predict in advance who will score a goal.

We have four teams that play and do their job ... No matter how you play, the opponent will have chances.

The question was not to close someone completely, it was necessary to dominate, to play aggressively.

Further, the opponents will be teams with stronger and more experienced.

I noticed that when a stronger team plays with us, we take a more responsible attitude, "the specialist admitted.

Also Larionov was dissatisfied with a number of judicial decisions in the confrontation with the German team.

He expressed bewilderment that the first number of the team was much more often on the penalty box than the opponent who made a bet on defense.

So, in the liability of the Russians there were ten minutes of the penalty, while the Germans had only four.

“I talked to the arbitrators and asked them to be more fair.

If a team attacks and dominates, then it cannot play in the minority more than the defender.

Hooks, delays - I asked the judges to pay attention to them.

These were not complaints ... Things that are not allowed to us are allowed to the opponent.

I ask the guys to endure: if we are in the minority for half the game, we will only defend.

This is how the world works, ”said Larionov.

In addition, the mentor told how the coaching staff corrects the tactical pattern of the team during the meeting and spoke about the state of Yegor Chinakhov.

The Avangard forward was injured in the group stage match with Austria and has not been on the ice since.

“During the match, a picture emerges and we see which of the guys is more focused, fresh, ready.

More stable in his game decisions and moments.

We are playing a playoff match, we have to make decisions in order to pull out the meeting, keep the score, play defensively somewhere.

We are discussing all decisions with the coaching staff during the break, making adjustments.

There is a day and a half to prepare for the semi-finals.

Misha Abramov must be fresh, and we hope for Yegor Chinakhov, who will strengthen the team, ”concluded Larionov.

The hockey players themselves were also not completely satisfied with their performance in the confrontation with the Bundesmannschaft.

So, the author of the winning puck Danil Bashkirov assured that not the most confident victory was not due to underestimation.

“It's just the first playoff game.

Now everyone felt that a mistake could be very costly.

Today we were worried, and it will be better further.

My goal?

We lost the throw-in, went actively to the opponent and made us make a mistake.

The guys lifted the puck up and hit well, ”RIA Novosti quotes Bashkirov.

Vasily Ponomarev, who distinguished himself in the minority, agreed with him.

The Shevinigan forward noted the importance of the result and assured that the Russian national team would try to draw conclusions by the semifinals.

“The game was the same as with the Czechs in the group.

We need to play more stable in attack, create more obstacles for the goalkeeper.

If we talk about a goal, then I was lucky with my partners.

Zakhar Bardakov saved the puck and transferred it to Sami Chistyakov.

And he gave the pass like Fetisov, so I just had to deal with the goalkeeper.

Sami did everything superbly, ”Ponomarev said.

The head of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation (FHR) Vladislav Tretyak reproached the youth for academicism and said that the outcome of the meeting with the Bundestim should have been decided by the end of the second 20-minute.

“We thought we would definitely win.

The guys played confidently, but they have to embody their advantage, you can't bring everything to a difference of one goal.

There are no weak rivals at this stage at the World Championship, the Germans have proved it ... With such a team, you have to score in the first period and decide the outcome of the match, you cannot postpone it for the third.

The score 2: 0 is shaky, it was necessary to immediately decide, "- quotes the words of Tretyak TASS.

Vice-President of the FHR Roman Rotenberg did not particularly criticize the youth, calling the first playoff match the most difficult.

According to him, the fact that the Russians for the first time during the tournament had to go out on the ice at 10:00 local time could have affected the game of Larionov's wards.

“The team was used to playing evening games ... This game was important in every way, in hockey everything is not smooth, it is always overcoming difficulties.

The German national team has one five scored 12 goals at this world championship, and taking into account today's it is already 13. So there was no underestimation of the enemy, we were preparing for a very serious meeting, "Rotenberg said.

Valery Kamensky, a member of the Triple Gold Club, expressed the opinion that the Russian national team controlled the course of the meeting, and the German goal "did not follow from the logic" of the game.

At the same time, he paid special attention to the problems with discipline and called on the mentors to conduct explanatory work with the wards.

“The coaching staff needs to explain to the guys a little harder that they cannot retire like that.

This can get expensive in the semifinals.

I think they will talk to them so that the hockey players understand this, ”Kamensky quotes“ Championship ”.

In turn, the bronze medalist of the Salt Lake City Olympics Andrei Nikolishin also raised the issue of underestimation and admitted that the Bundestim surpassed the Russian team in the number of dangerous shots.

“I don’t think that ours reacted irresponsibly to this game.

The Germans are a good and strong team.

They have three people in the top five scorers of the championship.

We don't even have anyone close there.

And in moments, by the way, the Germans outplayed us.

Twenty years ago, playing with the Germans, the score should have been more.

But now there is no such thing, hockey has changed, ”Nikolishin said.

The former Washington Capitals striker named the best hockey players in the Russian national team, but at the same time admitted that he was dissatisfied with her performance in the quarterfinals.

“If you distinguish from our players, then this is Askarov.

If not for Yaroslav, it would not be known how this match ended.

I also liked Khusnutdinov.

I am not happy with the national team's performance, yes, I am glad that we passed, but we must play stronger.

I think the guys were still nervous.

We were favorites, and it is still difficult for us to play the first number, ”Nikolishin said.

Ilya Bryzgalov, Stanley Cup winner with Anaheim Ducks, congratulated the national youth team on the victory and said that the final result of the confrontation with Germany does not matter.

“Of course, hockey is improving every year.

The main thing - we went further, what's the difference with what score did we beat the Germans? ", - quotes the words of the ex-goalkeeper" Sport-Express ".