The final showdown against the hosts

Because Poland will face outsiders Romania in the final group game and anything other than a win would amount to a sensation, promotion can hardly be taken away from the Eastern Europeans. Alan Łyszczarczyk's team has thus managed to move from the third category into the top division. The last time Poland played in the upper house was over 20 years ago, in 2002. Great Britain and Italy will fight for second place on Friday (20.30:XNUMX p.m.).

Before the start of the tournament, the Azzurri were rated somewhat higher, but the balance of power has now changed. The British are at the top of the table with four wins (three of them to zero). The team around Robert Dowd, who was still hunting for goals in Appiano two years ago, only dropped a point in the overtime win against Poland. Italy, on the other hand, lost 2-4 to Poland and is two points behind Great Britain before the last game. This means that if Poland wins its match against Romania, Angelo Miceli & Co. will have to defeat the hosts in regular time. Otherwise the climb is lost.

Problem child defense If Mike Keenan's team wants to keep the British at bay, they will have to show a different defensive face. Both against Poland and against Lithuania, the back line revealed glaring weaknesses, which resulted in eight goals being conceded. The Azzurri not only had problems with the allocation, but also made some inexplicable individual mistakes. Thomas Larkin & Co. cannot afford this against the offensively strong Great Britain, which has probably the best player of the World Cup in Liam Kirk (8 points).

It is unclear who Keenan will put in goal. The somewhat experienced Justin Fazio, who so far has a miserable catch rate of 85,37 percent, or the youngster Damian Clara (89,80 percent)? There is a lot to suggest that Asiago crack is preferred, but nothing has been decided. What is certain, however, is that if Italy wants to play in the top division next year, they need a significant increase in performance.

World Cup in Nottingham Friday, May 5th: Poland – Romania (13.30:XNUMX p.m.) Lithuania – South Korea (17 p.m.) Italy – Great Britain (20.30 p.m.)

The table Pos Team Games Points 1. Great Britain 4 11 2. Poland 4 10 3. Italian 4 9 4. South Korea 4 3 5. Romania 4 3 6. Lithuania 4 0

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The final showdown against the hosts

The Italian national ice hockey team has not yet blown its socks off at the Division IA World Championship in Nottingham (England). There has to be an improvement in the last game, after all it's about promotion against the hosts.

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