The Czech Republic gives Italy no chance

At the end of the group phase, Italy faces three more tough opponents, starting with today's rivals the Czech Republic, the world champions from 2010. Since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, the "Blue Team" has not been able to win against the Eastern Europeans once. They also compete in Sweden with numerous stars from the NHL and KHL, such as Martin Erat, who has just arrived in Stockholm from Nashville. Italy coach Rick Cornacchia gave his squad a lot of shake-up before today's match: Daniel Bellissimo had to make way for Thomas Tragust from Vipiteno between the posts after four games in a row. In defense, the absences of Helfer and Borgatello had to be compensated for. The young debutant Roland Hofer took Marchetti's place, who in turn formed the second defensive line with Egger. In attack, Edwardson was moved to the fourth block and Felicetti took his place on the third line.

The game was just three minutes old when the Czech Republic caused a stir with three big chances in a row. But Tragust stood in the way of Petruzalek, Michalek and Tenkrat. After 5.20:36 minutes, the “Azzurri” were challenged for the first time when they were outnumbered. However, they only withstood the pressure from the Czechs for 2 minutes before Nedved pushed the puck over the line. It was unclear whether the Czech veteran had touched the hard rubber disc with his stick or his skate. The fact is: After the requested video evidence, the referees gave the goal. Although the Czech Republic now shifted down a gear, Ansoldi and Co. had no chance, the difference in quality between the two teams was simply too big. So the 0-12.45 was only a matter of time: After a remarkable combination game with Petruzalek, Novotny Tragust lost for the second time after XNUMX minutes. Immediately afterwards, the Broncos Sterzing goalie distinguished himself with a great save against Tenkrat. On the other side, only Larkin, in Cornacchia's first power play, caused danger with a powerful shot.

At the beginning of the second third, emotions were sometimes few and far between. Only Iannone stood out with a great wrist shot. When the “Azzurri” were allowed to play in the majority for the second time, they caught a quick counterattack via Caslava, who cleverly turned the disc around the stick and hit the net to make it 3-0. The Italians' morale was now broken: when they were outnumbered, Tragust was able to defuse a shot from Blatak before Plastino directed a final attempt from Hemsky into his own goal. Just 60 seconds later, Caslava even increased the score to 5-0 with a tough direct shot. It was only towards the end of the middle period that Italy cautiously felt its way in front of the opponent's goal and caused at least a hint of danger with shots from Tudin, Scandella and De Marchi.

In the final third, the Czech Republic slowed down two gears and gave Italy a chance. Bernard and Iannone took advantage of this to put themselves in the spotlight in front of the opponent's goal. In the last ten minutes of the game, the 2010 world champion tightened the reins again and put Tragust under constant fire from Caslava, Tenkrat and Prucha. In the 55th minute, the Italians' convincing goalkeeper had to admit defeat for the sixth and final time. Erat put a wrist shot under the crossbar to make the final score 6-0.

After the fourth defeat in the fifth World Cup game, the “Azzurri” have to hope in the fight to stay in the league that Denmark does not win in the rest of the tournament and thus keeps the red lantern. Because Italy will face their next, almost overwhelmingly powerful opponents, Sweden and Russia, on Saturday and Monday.

Italy – Czech Republic 0:6 (0:2, 0:3, 0:1)

Italy: Thomas Tragust (Daniel Bellissimo); Matt de Marchi, Nick Plastino - Stefano Marchetti, Alexander Egger - Trevor Johnson, Thomas Larkin - Roland Hofer; Giulio Scandella, Dan Tudin, Luca Ansoldi - Nicola Fontanive, Vince Rocco, Rob Sirianni - Marco Insam, Luca Felicetti, Pat Iannone - Diego Iori, Anton Bernard, Derek Edwardson, Manuel De Toni; Coach: Rick Cornacchia

Czech Republic: Jakub Stepanek (Jakub Kovar); Miroslav Blatak, Jakub Nakladal – Ondrej Nemec, Petr Caslava – Tomas Mojzis, Lukas Krajicek – Jakub Krejick; Milan Michalek, Martin Erat, Tomas Plekanec – David Krejci, Petr Tenkrat, Ales Hemsky – Michael Frolik, Petr Prucha, Petr Nedved – Jiri Novotny, Lukas Kaspar, Petr Koukal, Jakub Petruzalek; Coach: Alois Hadamczik Gates: 0:1 Petr Nedved (pp,5.56), 0:2 Jiri Novotny (12.45), 0:3 Petr Caslava (pk,27.15), 0:4 Ales Hemsky (pp,31.45), 0:5 Petr Caslava (32.45) , 0:6 Martin Erat (pp,54.29) Penalty minutes: 12-8 (6-2, 2-2, 4-4)

Shots on goal: 20-41 (5-11, 5-16, 10-14)

PRELIMINARY ROUND “A” HELSINKI 1th matchday USA - France 7:2 (1:1, 3:1, 3:0) Canada - Slovakia 3:2 (1:0, 2:1, 0:1) Belarus - Finland 0:1 (0:1, 0:0, 0:0) Switzerland - Kazakhstan 5:1 (2:0, 3:1 0.0)

2th matchday Canada - USA 4:5 aet(1:1, 1:1, 2:2, 0:1) France - Kazakhstan 6:3 (3:1, 1:1, 2:1) Finland - Slovakia 1:0 (1:0, 0:0, 0:0) Switzerland - Belarus 3:2 (2:1, 0:1, 1:0)

3th matchday France - Canada 2:7 (1:4, 1:1, 0:2) USA - Slovakia 2:4 (1:3, 1:0, 0:1) Belarus - Kazakhstan 3:2 (0:1, 3:1, 0:0) Finland - Switzerland 5:2 (1:0, 2:2, 2:0)

4st match day: Slovakia - Kazakhstan 4:2 (1:1, 1:0, 2:1) Canada - Switzerland 3:2 (0:1, 1:0, 2:1) USA - Belarus 5:3 (2:1, 1:1, 2:1) France - Finland 1:7 (0:1, 0:4, 1:2)

5st match day: Kazakhstan - USA 2:3 aet (0:0, 1:1, 1:1, 0:1) 0:1 Brown (34.12), 1:1 Pushkaryov (38.17), 1:2 Faulk (44.58), 2:2 Zhailauov (55.54), 2:3 Faulk (64.38)

Finland - Canada 3:5 (2:0, 1:3, 0:2) 1:0 Pihlstrom (5.53), 2:0 Koivu (10.31), 2:1 Burrows (25.34), 3:1 Jokinen (27.36), 3:2 Tavares (34.31), 3:3 Skinner (38.18), 3: 4 Kane (46.04), 3:5 Eberle (59.36)

Slovakia - Belarus 5:1 (1:0, 4:1, 0:0) 1:0 Sekera (6.45), 2:0 Radiojevic (23.16), 3:0 Miklik (34.58), 4:0 Kopecky (35.48), 5:0 Mikus (36.56), 5:1 Kalyuzhny (34.36)

Switzerland - France 2:4 (0:1, 2:1, 0:2) 0:1 Auvitu (17.11), 0:2 Teddy da Costa (32.44), 1:2 Brunner (33.14), 2:2 Brunner (35.04), 2:3 Meunier (46.21), 2:4 Stephane da Costa (47.05 )

Table after the 5nd matchday

1. Canada 13 points (22:14) 2. Finland 12 (17:8) 3. USA 10 (22:15) 4. Slovakia 9 (15:9) 5. Switzerland 6 (14:15) 6. France 6 (15:26) 7. Belarus 3 (9:16) 8. Kazakhstan 1 (10:21)

PRELIMINARY ROUND “B” STOCKHOLM 1th matchday Germany - Italy 3:0 (1:0, 1:0, 1:0) Czech Republic - Denmark 2:0 (0:0, 1:0, 1.0) Sweden - Norway 3:1 (1:0, 1:1, 1:0) Latvia - Russia 2:5 (1:0, 0:2, 1:3)

2th matchday Sweden - Czech Republic 4:1 (1:0, 1:0, 2:1) Denmark – Italy 3:4 aet (0:2, 3:1, 0:0, 0:1) Russia - Norway 4:2 (0:0, 3:2, 1:0) Germany - Latvia 2:3 (0:1, 2:1, 0:1)

3th matchday Czech Republic - Norway 4:3 nP (1:1, 1:1, 1:1, 0:0) Denmark - Sweden 4:6 (1:4, 1:2, 2:0) Latvia - Italy 5:0 (1:0, 2:0, 2:0) Russia - Germany 2:0 (1:0, 0:0, 1:0)

4th matchday Norway - Italy 6:2 (2:1, 2:1, 2:0) Sweden - Germany 5:2 (1:1, 2:1, 2:0) Denmark - Russia 1:3 (1:2, 0:1, 0:0) Czech Republic - Latvia 3:1 (0:0, 1:1, 2:0)

5th matchday Italy - Czech Republic 0:6 (0:2, 0:3, 0:1) 0:1 Nedved (5.56), 0:2 Novotny (12.45), 0:3 Caslava (27.15), 0:4 Hemsky (31.45), 0:5 Caslava (32.45), 0:6 Erat (54.29)

Russia - Sweden 7:3 (1:2, 2:1, 4:0) 0:1 Karlsson (5.57), 1:1 Popov (10.27), 1:2 Zetterberg (14.33), 1:3 Franzen (29.36), 2:3 Malkin (36.00), 3:3 Yemelin (38.27), 4: 3 Perezhogin (40.15), 5:3 Malkin (42.40), 6:3 Malkin (51.08), 7:3 Perezhogin (59.06)

Norway - Latvia 3:0 (1:0, 2:0, 0:0) 1:0 Holos (12.43), 2:0 Martinsen (22.54), 3:0 Thoresen (38.43)

Germany - Denmark 2:1 (0:0, 1:1, 1:0) 0:1 Green (21.35), 1:1 Greilinger (37.10), 2:1 Gogulla (48.24)

Table after the 5nd matchday 1. Russia 15 points (21:8) 2. Sweden 12 (21:15) 3. Czech Republic 11 (16:8) 4. Norway 7 (15:13) 5. Latvia 6 (11:13) 6. Germany 6 (9:11) 7. Italy 2 (6:23) 8. Denmark 1 (9:17)

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Hockey

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

The Czech Republic gives Italy no chance

There was nothing to gain for the Italian national team at the fifth game of the Ice Hockey World Championship in Stockholm. The “Azzurri” lost 0-6 to the Czech team, which was full of NHL and KHL stars. The next overpowering opponent awaits on Saturday at 20.15:XNUMX p.m., hosts Sweden.

Suggestions

Comments (0)