They were also worried about that '5 week quarantine' and not getting their stars back. Of course, we all know, that there is no 5 week quarantine and the 4 eliminated teams (now 8) will all get home with no delay! I'm sure people are booing the Czechs at the airport right now.
Yes, if Finland plays in the final against Russia and the judges have not been bribed by Russia or China. Finland today has kryptonite for the Russians and they come up with the most wonderful reasons why they lost to Finland.
For example, when Barkov, Komarov or Donskoi score a goal for Finland, they are automatically Russian in the Russian media, even though they were born and raised in Finland. This is how the Russian media works. 
Well, I would not be so confident, on paper Russia is clearly if not overwhelmingly the better team. Obviously we will be better coached (a given basically against all opponents) but their skill and speed might easily overcome our discipline in a single match. But emotionally it would be much easier to have Russia in the final (provided we even beat Slovakia) than Sweden. Losing to the yellow shirts would be so much worse than losing to Russia. (I'm an old school Finn, I think the younger generations are more evenly dividedYes, if Finland plays in the final against Russia and the judges have not been bribed by Russia or China. Finland today has kryptonite for the Russians and they come up with the most wonderful reasons why they lost to Finland.
)Well, I always cheer for Nordic cousins if Finland is not involved. Therefore, in the 2010s, Russia has risen rivaly, because in those games there is a feeling greater than in Swedish games.Well, I would not be so confident, on paper Russia is clearly if not overwhelmingly the better team. Obviously we will be better coached (a given basically against all opponents) but their skill and speed might easily overcome our discipline in a single match. But emotionally it would be much easier to have Russia in the final (provided we even beat Slovakia) than Sweden. Losing to the yellow shirts would be so much worse than losing to Russia. (I'm an old school Finn, I think the younger generations are more evenly divided
Yeah, I get that - and I really like the traditional Swedish style of hockey (though it has been getting rather random lately) - they used to have cool nerves and very balanced play, but now the individual coaches have been taking tactics this way and that. Russia as a rivalry is just bit too serious to my mind, too much history and present, hockey is just sports. Sweden is the most identical country to Finland on this green earth, it's kind of harmless to have this bitter rivalry with them
Yeah, I get that - and I really like the traditional Swedish style of hockey (though it has been getting rather random lately) - they used to have cool nerves and very balanced play, but now the individual coaches have been taking tactics this way and that. Russia as a rivalry is just bit too serious to my mind, too much history and present, hockey is just sports. Sweden is the most identical country to Finland on this green earth, it's kind of harmless to have this bitter rivalry with them
The Euro leagues are not a billion $ corporations nor do their top players have 8-12 million dollar contracts. Trying to compare the two is apples and oranges
Not really sure what's your take here. They have less money therefore it hurts them less to lose money? What?
Please take the time to go back in the thread and read if you want to comment. I dont feel like explaining it again.
Swedish hockey journalist Mats Wennerholm has been thinking for years that Finland is the big brother and Sweden the little brother in hockey. So why bully a little brother when a neighbor lives in Russia.Yeah, I get that - and I really like the traditional Swedish style of hockey (though it has been getting rather random lately) - they used to have cool nerves and very balanced play, but now the individual coaches have been taking tactics this way and that. Russia as a rivalry is just bit too serious to my mind, too much history and present, hockey is just sports. Sweden is the most identical country to Finland on this green earth, it's kind of harmless to have this bitter rivalry with them
Honestly I have seen Finland even before the tournament started as the main favorite and Russia as the only true contender and I still think so. Obviously any team in this tournament excluding China could have won any medal but Finland & Russia are clearly above all others.
I like the 4th line a lot as it is. Slafkovsky in 1st is a good option when some shuffle is needed - just like against USA.
No way. Finland, even if slightly, but on paper has a better offense, defence, goaltending and coaching. And they play better in the tournament as of now too. They are absolutely the favourite to win, not Russia.
Off course it is financial interest, but things have been complicated by covid - many matches had to be postponed etc. One important difference between NHL teams and european professional teams is that latter are all in a field of competence of IIHF, and they simply cannot tell "sorry, we cannot let players to go to Olympic tournament, we need to continue our league". And european fans would not prefer league over Olympics.
Lol... So if person makes 50$/day, him losing 5 weeks earnings is lesser than person who makes 500$/day ?
