Sweden is going for its third consecutive World Championship gold and its eleventh overall in history, but the start of the championship in Malmö was not the best.
After barely five minutes, the premiere opponent Slovakia took the lead. Although Sweden turned it around to 3–2 after one period, the national team captain Thomas Brottman was not satisfied.
It's a pretty lousy period from us. We can do a lot better than this. There are certainly some nerves, but at the same time, we have to live in the present, he says to SVT.
Last Championship
The World Championship in Malmö is the last and third for Brottman and national team captain colleague Niklas Nordén. Shortly before the championship, the news came that they would have to quit after the World Championship.
Their team lifted themselves in the middle act. Already after 37 seconds, Tobias Gustafsson scored his second goal of the day, and after 2.13, Albin Sjögren made it 5–2. Going into the third period, Sweden led 6–3.
Sometimes it's very good. Then we have control over them and tire them out, but we still end up letting them counter. We have to play smarter in the third period, says team captain Tobias Gustafsson.
Big Win in the End
Already 49 seconds into the final act, Malte Lundmark killed Slovakia's hopes of disturbing Sweden in the premiere. Lundmark could, with his second goal of the day, make it 7–3. In the end, it was a Swedish victory with 12–4. Hampus Ahrén became the top blue-yellow goal scorer with three goals.
On Sunday, Latvia awaits, which lost with the odd goal (3–4) against Finland. It is only Sweden and Finland – ten and four golds, respectively – that have won the World Championship on the men's side.
Corrected version: In an earlier version, the incorrect number of World Championship golds for Finland was stated at the end of the text.
The men's floorball World Championship is being played in Malmö. The two top teams in groups A and B go directly to the quarterfinals. The third and fourth teams in the two groups meet the first and second teams in groups C and D in a playoff for a quarterfinal spot.
Sweden's matches in group A (Malmö arena):
Saturday: 12–4 Slovakia.
Sunday: Latvia (2:30 PM).
Tuesday: Finland (7:00 PM).
Playoff matches are played on Wednesday, quarterfinals on Thursday and Friday. If Sweden advances directly, the team will play the quarterfinal on Thursday at 5:30 PM.
Semifinals are played on Saturday. The bronze match (12:50 PM) and the final (3:50 PM) are decided on Sunday.
