Swedish NHL legend criticized Switzerland after the World Championship final – “They don’t dare”
The years-long gold rush for Switzerland in the ice hockey World Championships received another grim continuation on Sunday evening in Zurich. The host nation was left without a world championship for the third consecutive year as Finland celebrated the gold with Konsta Helenius‘ overtime goal.
At the same time, Switzerland’s bleak final statistics continued: the country has failed to score a single goal in its last three World Championship finals.
NHL legend Peter Forsberg, who served as an expert for Sweden’s Viaplay during the World Championships, did not hold back in his assessment of Switzerland’s problems in crucial matches.
– They don’t dare to play until the end. They are cautious and stop playing in the finals. The fact that you haven’t scored in three consecutive finals proves this, Forsberg twisted the knife in the Swiss wounds.
Another Viaplay expert, Erik Granqvist, saw Switzerland’s biggest problem as its ability to handle the increasing pressure to win year after year.
– They are too afraid. Finland dared more and has the resilience and structure that has allowed it to win so many gold medals. Additionally, Finland had true star players on its team, Granqvist assessed.
For Switzerland, the loss was particularly heavy, as the team had been one of the most convincing teams throughout the tournament – perhaps the most convincing. However, in the final, playing in front of a home crowd, the team was unable to break through the Lions’ defense.
The silver medal was already a painfully familiar outcome for many Swiss players.
NHL veteran Nino Niederreiter has been part of losing a World Championship final five times. For captain Roman Josie, Sunday’s loss was his third silver finish in the World Championships.
Switzerland’s first World Championship gold still awaits, even though the country has risen to the absolute elite of ice hockey in recent years.
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