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On Saturday against Denmark the quarter-final ticket is ready for the national team at the World Cup. Fischer is still working on fine-tuning.
With 11 out of 12 possible points from the first 4 games, Switzerland has put itself in a formidable position at the World Cup in Prague. The starting position before the Saturday lunchtime game is clear: If the national team also wins against Denmark – regardless of whether after 60 minutes or an additional loop – the quarter-final ticket is purchased early.
Rested for a strict weekend
Switzerland definitely wants to seize this opportunity, especially since Canada and Finland still have two big chunks waiting at the end of the preliminary round. While the Danes still duel with the British on Friday afternoon, the national team should be rested after two days without games.
On Thursday, coach Patrick Fischer gave his protégés all the time off; on Friday, Switzerland completed a morning training session in the smaller hall right next to the large arena.
All three goalies and all field players appeared on the ice, including Gaëtan Haas, who was injured in the opening game against Norway and was recently missing. If Fischer lets the Danes play like they did in training, the Swiss fans can look forward to a newly assembled parade storm.
Wanted: More effectiveness at 5v5
In addition to Kevin Fiala and Nico Hischier, Nino Niederreiter, who had previously formed a formation with Sven Andrighetto and Ken Jäger, stormed. It would be the first time at this World Cup that Fischer bundled his best offensive forces, at least on paper, into a forward line.
This is probably also due to the fact that Switzerland has not yet been completely convincing at 5-on-5 and the harmony in the formations tested so far has not always been right. Half of the national team’s 16 tournament goals came in the power play, which – boosted by Roman Josi – has worked extremely well so far.
Fischer hasn’t yet revealed his cards when it comes to the goalie question. Both Leonardo Genoni as well as Reto Berra and Akira Schmid have been used from the start in the tournament so far, Genoni being the only one twice. The two games at the weekend against Denmark and Canada should shed light on the national team’s goalie hierarchy.