- The Swiss national floorball team clearly loses the World Cup semi-final against the Czech Republic in Zurich by 3:11.
- She clearly misses the desired dream final against Sweden.
- From the 13th to the 35th minute, the Czechs pull away from offensively harmless Swiss from 1:2 to 7:2.
At the home World Cup, Switzerland missed out on reaching the final for the first time since 1998. In the semifinals, the Czech Republic proved to be at least one size too big. In front of 12,000 spectators in a packed Swiss Life Arena, coach David Jansson’s team had to admit defeat to the Eastern Europeans by 3:11. The Czech Republic is in the final for the first time since 2004 and will play against Sweden for World Cup gold on Sunday.
In the 49th minute, Martin Tokos destroyed the last hopes of the crowd in the stands dressed in red and white with his goal to make it 8:3. Goalie Patrick Eder had left the field in favor of another field player, but the Czechs took advantage of this. After three more hits for the “guests”, the fair was over.
Double double whammy as a mood killer
Up until the first break tea, the signs had pointed to a balanced game. Then the gods of fortune seemed to have turned their backs on the Swiss. First goalkeeper Pascal Meier didn’t return between the posts – the Swiss goalkeeper had already missed the quarter-finals due to stomach problems – then the Czechs in Zurich became a mood killer. Filip Langer (21st) and Jiri Besta (23rd) made it 5:2 from 3:2.
A penalty against Christoph Camenisch initiated the next double strike after half of the game. Filip Forman (33rd) and Adam Hemerka (37th) shocked Jansson’s protégés and especially the pitiful goalie Eder. Patrick Mendelin’s reaction two more minutes later brought at least some hope back to the stadium.
Response to false start
Too flawed, too careless, not efficient enough: The Swiss didn’t have their best day in the sold-out house. The minute hand of the clock had just turned twice at the beginning of the game when Mikulas Krbec put the Czech Republic ahead with the very first shot at Meier. The Swiss, however, were unimpressed by this:
- 4th minute: Experienced Christoph Meier is acrobatically gifted, takes a high ball with his chest and sends it baseball-style into the Czech goal for an acclaimed equalizer.
- 7 minutes: The no less experienced Mendelin lurks at the post. Defender Nils Conrad fakes a run through behind the goal, serves Mendelin instead. This one has no trouble pushing in.
Déjà vu against Finland?
If the Swiss don’t want to remain without a medal at home, they have to beat Finland again in the bronze medal game on Sunday (12 noon, live on SRF Zwei). This plan was successful in the group phase – at that time they had the upper hand with 7:5. In the semi-final against Sweden (3:4 defeat after penalties) Finland showed itself to be extremely strong.