Russia (bbabo.net), - Today the Russian national team will fight for the top four at the Olympic hockey tournament. The opponent of the team of Alexei Zhamnov in the quarterfinals will be the Danish team. The same one that ours not without difficulty beat at the group stage - 2:0.
Two more quarter-final pairs were made by the USA - Slovakia and Finland - Switzerland. The opponent of the Swedes was determined after the signing of this issue for publication following the results of the match between Canada and China.
Briefly recall the format of the tournament. After the group round, none of the 12 participating teams were eliminated from the tournament. A composite rating has been formed. The teams that took the first four places in it advanced directly to the quarter-finals. The remaining eight had to fight for a quarter-final spot in an extra round of the playoffs. Russia thanks to the first place in group "B" made its way to the quarter-finals in the shortest way. The already mentioned consolidated rating determined the winner of the Denmark-Latvia pair as the closest rivals to her.
The Danes in Beijing were considered noteworthy outsiders, but at the group stage they made a splash. Neither the Czechs (1:2) nor the Swiss (3:5) could do anything with the Scandinavians. The current Olympic champions, the Russians, also tinkered with them. For a long time, ours led with a minimum score, and only five seconds before the final siren, they hit the gates of the Danes for the second time, who had removed the goalkeeper by that time. The Danish nut has appeared to the Latvian national team not on forces. Although during the Balts even led in the long run. They responded to Morten Poulsen's goal with a double from Dynamo Riga forward Lauris Darzins.
Another thing is that the Danes are also not deprived of character. At the end of the second period, Julian Jacobsen restored the balance in the score, and at the start of the third period, Markus Lauridsen scored the puck, which turned out to be the winner.
Hardly anyone expected the Danes in the quarterfinals. And, judging by their words, this is not the limit of their dreams.
- Of course, we have a chance to beat the Russian team in the quarterfinals. Guys, this is a sport! There is always a chance. We can arrange a new "miracle on the ice" tomorrow - cheerfully said the captain of the Scandinavians Mikkel Bedker.
In general, it is useful to recall that the Danish ice hockey team is not at all a football team that has recently reached the semi-finals of the European Championship. Danish hockey players have never risen above eighth place at the world championships, and they made it to the Olympic Games for the first time. But the players of the Danish national team are not at all embarrassed.
- I agree that the quarter-final match against Russia is the most important in the history of our team, - added Danish forward Frans Nielsen. - Yes, but at the same time, tomorrow we can win everything, and Russia can lose everything. All the pressure is on them, and we can go out and play freely. We need to act against them in the same way as in our first match. I hope we have the courage to hold on to the puck. Usually in matches against Russia it is possible to play successfully on counterattacks, because they are aimed at the attack. But here they played very systemically against us and they didn't allow us much. The moments were hard for us. The Russians love to play with the puck, so we need to play well off the puck. I hope we will be able to counterattack with a numerical advantage and score.
What else can be said about the Danes? Perhaps this team lacks skill, but with experience it is all right. Many players have seen the scenes, some have decent backgrounds in the National Hockey League. However, it is hardly worth expecting the Russians to underestimate the opponent. The match in the group in this regard was very helpful.
The Danish advance to the quarter-finals is not the only surprise in the extra round of the playoffs. Outside the top eight unexpectedly were the Czechs, who lost to Switzerland - 2:4. The same Czechs who brought to Beijing, albeit with an age composition, but with loud names. The victory of Filip Pechan's men in the group over Russia - 6:5 seems to have only strengthened the Czech ambitions. And the Czech team beat the Swiss in the group stage - 2:1.
But it's nothing that they say that the playoffs are a completely different story. And here it is not only the class that decides, but also the experience. And in this, the Swiss were definitely not inferior to the opponent. Their first goal, for example, was scored by 38-year-old Andres Ambul, for whom the 2022 Games are already the fifth in his career. By the way, the goal of the Czechs was the first for him in his entire Olympic career.
Forward of the Danish national team: In the match with the Russian national team, we can win everything, but they can lose everything. All the pressure on them
The Czechs also have a historical achievement, only with a minus sign. For the first time, they failed to reach the quarterfinals of the Olympic hockey tournament.
Note that in the additional round of the playoffs, the performance of the silver medalist of the Olympics four years ago, the German team, also ended. The Germans have not figured out what to oppose to the Slovaks - 0:4.
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