Alone in the vast expanse of space: Jukka Jalonen's term in office ended ignominiously. © ANSA / SALVATORE DI NOLFI

A wordless farewell: Italy's star coach is gone.

After a successful World Cup so far, Italy suffered a crushing defeat in their final match, dropping out of the top division. Just minutes after the loss to Slovenia, Damian Clara and his teammates engaged in merciless self-criticism. Only the coach refused to participate.

26 May 2026

From Fribourg

The Azzurri had envisioned things very differently. Their form was trending upwards, the relegation showdown against Slovenia seemed to have come at just the right time – but instead of a final celebration, there was boundless disappointment. Italy suffered a crushing 1-5 defeat and were relegated from the top division on Whit Monday..

"Probably rightly so," said the captain. Alex Trivellato Later, in the mixed zone in the bowels of the World Cup arena. It was barely a quarter of an hour after the final whistle, yet he was still seething with anger. "What more can I say? We played a good tournament, but if you just can't put the ball in the net and lose like that in the decisive game, then that pretty much says it all."

"Slovenia deserves it. We have to be honest about that." Matthias Mantinger

The Kaltern striker saw it similarly. Matthias Mantinger"We weren't clinical enough in front of goal, that was a recurring theme throughout the tournament. The Slovenians did a much better job, they deserved to stay in the league. We have to be honest about that."

Clara points her finger at herself

After Trivellato and Mantinger, another trotted along Damian Clara Deeply crestfallen, he walked through the media corridor. When asked about the reasons for the defeat, the Anaheim Ducks goalie immediately shifted the focus away from his offensively weak teammates. "Before I judge others, I have to start with myself. I should never have let the Slovenians in for their third goal. I also need to react better on the fourth and fifth. I feel bad for the team that I didn't do a good job."

After previously outstanding performances, Damian Clara faltered in the very last World Cup match. © ANSA / PETER SCHNEIDER

Clara has spent this season with three different teams in three different leagues, so now it's time to catch her breath: "Yes, I've been traveling a lot these past few weeks. My development this season has been okay, but the results haven't. I was eliminated early in the playoffs both times, and we didn't win a single game at the Olympics or the World Championships. Unfortunately, I have to take that bitter taste with me into the break."

"We will learn our lessons from a sporting perspective. But what comes next..." Sporting director Stefan Zisser

However, he has completely different worries Stefan Zisser, as sporting director primarily responsible for Italy's national ice hockey teams. "We've seen where the problems lie. We'll learn our lessons from this in terms of sporting performance. But what happens next will only become clear in a few months, at least after the federation elections."

Jalonen's bitter end

However, one thing already seems to be emerging, but has not yet been officially confirmed by the decision-makers: Coach Jukka Jalonen He will leave. And it is a wordless farewell. While his battered players answered questions in this bitter moment, the former World Cup-winning coach from Finland refused all interviews after the relegation. It was, in every respect, an inglorious end to his nearly two-year tenure.