The Swiss showed a lot of good things at the home tournament of the Euro Hockey Tour in Fribourg. One shortcoming, however, is once again their efficiency.
15.12.2024, 21:45
15.12.2024, 21:50
SDA
After defeats against Sweden (1:4) and world champions the Czech Republic (0:2), the Swiss finished the tournament with a 1:0 win against Finland. It was their first home win in the Euro Hockey Tour after losing ten games. Nevertheless, coach Patrick Fischer's team did not finish higher than last place.
"Eight out of nine periods were really good, I'm glad we've now been rewarded," said Fischer after the first success against Finland in the Euro Hockey Tour after five defeats. He describes the end of the home curse as a "nice side effect". The day before, after the game against the Czechs, he had still used harsh words, saying: "Scoring goals is a mental thing for me." It's about wanting to make the difference in every shift. "We have to learn that." Fischer even threatened a simpler and duller style of play.
In a joking mood
"Sometimes that's what it takes," he says the day after the reprimand. The message certainly got through, the team put in a very strong performance and absolutely deserved to win. Winning goalscorer Christoph Bertschy said: "Today we were able to show what we had planned for 60 minutes." In general, it was a good week over long stretches. However, efficiency was also lacking on Sunday. However, the Swiss must be given credit for the fact that Finnish keeper Emil Larmi had a brilliant day.
Fischer was in a joking mood after the win. "We said that as long as we don't score any goals, our tactic is to win 1:0. That worked out. But of course, we had even more chances than yesterday. We can be even more cold-blooded in the hot zone." For Fischer, one explanation for the lack of coolness in front of the opposing goal is: "The players want to perform for the national team and make the difference, maybe that's why they're a bit tense."
Fischer was very satisfied with the things he wanted to install - in forechecking and in the defensive and neutral zones. "We were clearly better there than in November." They also got out the back better. Fischer also praised the two goalies Ludovic Waeber, who celebrated his first shutout in national dress, and Stéphane Charlin. In any case, he now sees the situation in the important goalie position as much rosier than it was three or four years ago.
No big experiments
The next Euro Hockey Tour tournament will take place in Stockholm from February 6 to 9. The Swiss will play their first game against Finland at home, in Langnau, where an international match will be played for the first time in more than 35 years.
Those players who were involved in November and now in Freiburg, such as the ZSC quartet Denis Malgin, Sven Andrighetto, Dean Kukan and Christian Marti, will "probably" not be called up. But Fischer makes it clear: "I don't want to try out too much." Although form is a criterion for him, he primarily wants to consider players "who we feel have the potential to take part in the World Cup."
