We played too chaotic / day
It has already been reported that in the seventh match of the World Cup, the Latvian national team conceded to the Austrians with 1: 6 (0: 0, 1: 3, 0: 3), unable to qualify for the quarterfinals.
« There was a lack of leadership. There was no responsibility and the game is safer, » Vitolins said after the failure. « We played a bit chaotic all the time. There were moments where they needed to decide, but the puck was returned to someone else. It created insecurity. »
The head coach did not blame anyone specifically, but noted that there were players who could play better, and there were those who made a mistake, but that was the hockey game.
« There were times when we controlled the game, when it was the last shot, but then we were scared and tried to give the puck another, » the head coach said of the causes of the loss. « We made many wrong decisions. »
Goalkeeper Krister Gudlevsky, striker Dan Ločmelis and guard Christian Rubin were recognized as the top three players in the Latvian national team. Vitolins based such a choice on the fact that, thanks to Gudlevsky, important victories were won, Ločmelis has progressed significantly in confidence and craftsmanship, but Ruby was the safest guard with the best utility.
« Everyone invested something, » Vitolins said of the tournament. « There were also those beautiful victories and good battles, but always the last match remains the most vivid in memory. »
The head coach did not want to evaluate the tournament with a negative mark, saying that apart from the last game, the team had a good championship overall. « I liked the team spirit, » Vitolins added.
In Group A, Sweden is the leader with 18 points in six games, Canada and Finland, with 16 and 13 points respectively, but with ten points in seven games as Austria in the final group in the final group, for the first time since 1994. Latvia finished the championship with nine points, with Seven points in six games for Slovakia, but in seven games, four points are for Slovenia and one point for France.
The 16 teams start in the tournament are divided into two groups, with eight teams each, which guarantees seven games for each team. The top four teams in each group will continue their battle for medals in the quarterfinals, but the weakest teams in both groups will leave the strongest division, and will be replaced by Britain and Italy next year.
This year’s World Cup in Herning and the Swedish capital, Stockholm, will take place from 9 to 25 May. Group B games and two quarter -final matches will take place in Herning, while Stockholm will also host two quarter -final duties, semi -final games and medals.
