Gold Medal Pre-Game Talk: Sweden vs. Finland

Systemfel · 05-13-2011, 03:34 PM

Game is at 20:30 CET/2:30 APM ET on Sunday.

Ati · 05-13-2011, 03:35 PM

Same as 2006. I see a really close game but after seeing Swedes absolutely shut down Czechs most dangerous players, i cant see why they wouldnt do the same to Finland. Even match but edge to the Swedes.

Russia underperforming, surprised they beat Canada. Good luck

Juzmo · 05-13-2011, 03:38 PM

Win! Perkele!

Dosing · 05-13-2011, 03:38 PM

Frank Bascombe · 05-13-2011, 03:39 PM

We're gonna see some epic anti-jinxing from our Finnish friends in this thread

Pentothal · 05-13-2011, 03:39 PM

Can't wait for this! Best possible final matchup. Let's just ****ing win.

AwesomePanthers · 05-13-2011, 03:41 PM

Norway beat the Czechs in the preliminary round last year and they won the gold, so it's given who'll win.

NutCracker · 05-13-2011, 03:43 PM

I think it's Finland's turn to win

Mara · 05-13-2011, 03:43 PM

The Swedes obviously have the mental edge, Finns will probably piss their pants once the puck hits the ice and without a solid game by the goalie it's gonna be a hard one to win. But we do have a chance.

dfk711* · 05-13-2011, 03:44 PM

If there has ever been a time for Finland to man the **** up and win something it's now.

I can't take this **** of always getting silver especially if it's to Sweden again.

joe89 · 05-13-2011, 03:47 PM

Good task for our young team. Come out and play to win it, that's all. Don't be afraid to lose.

Kamal007 · 05-13-2011, 03:48 PM

Hopefully you Fins get your win against Sweden. Really cheering for you guys, especially since you shut up those Russian fans.

FiLe · 05-13-2011, 03:51 PM

Finland has played in 9 finals before this and have ONE friggin' gold... statistically, they HAVE to win sometime.

**FinHockey** · 05-13-2011, 03:54 PM

Oh look, it's the optimistic Finns. Why is it so hard to think that Finland could actually win?

vsk92 · 05-13-2011, 03:55 PM

bring on our ABBA loving neighbors

only joking hope it will be a good match and may the best team win - of course finland

dfk711* · 05-13-2011, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinHockey

Oh look, it's the optimistic Finns. Why is it so hard to think that Finland could actually win?

Statistics and reality

Pentothal · 05-13-2011, 03:56 PM

Sunday evening, Swe - Fin WC final. It will be interesting to see the tv ratings for this. Both countries should pretty much be at a standstill.

I R Baboon · 05-13-2011, 03:58 PM

I'll accept a loss if Granlund is the real deal and becomes a superstar. I've been worried about Finland's future but if they have superstar Granlund + new Koivu they'll manage.

That said, I wont accept a loss.

Panopticon · 05-13-2011, 03:58 PM

Congrats on yet another World Championship, Sweden.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinHockey

Oh look, it's the optimistic Finns. Why is it so hard to think that Finland could actually win?

I believe Finland CAN win. They have the potential, sure. I just don't believe they actually WILL win. Why? Because it never happens.

Raimo Sillanpää · 05-13-2011, 04:01 PM

This is the 2nd time Finland meets Sweden in the IHWC final, last time was 1998 when Sweden was stuffed with stars and Finland was SM-Liiga+Sami Kapanen.
Finland lost 1-0 over two games, 1-0 in the first game and 0-0 in the second game when the world worst referee ever, Alex Dell, disallowed a legitimate Finnish goal

EmeticDonut · 05-13-2011, 04:03 PM

Obviously Sweden wins the gold. The only Finnish gold was a glitch in the Matrix and has since been corrected. Of course I hope it will be a gold for Finland, would be a nice bookend for YLEs coverage of these tournaments, started it in 1995 and will end it in 2011.

Paatos · 05-13-2011, 04:04 PM

Yeah , in a la la land we would win but because this is reality, Sweden always wins.

It's like a law of nature, proven by the 1995 anomaly caused by a shift between parallel universes brought on by the shape of Globen.

Gongrats Sweden, WC 2011 with that material is a good achievement.

llwyd · 05-13-2011, 04:07 PM

I will be barely able to watch this game - I guess this is one tiny indication why we have sucked in the final matches: we are too afraid of losing. The Turin team was by far the best team in the tournament, the elderly Swedes with their stately tempo should not have been an impossible barrier. But essentially we froze, slowed down to the Swedish rhythm (with Forsberg in very slow motion), were scared of losing, and so, lost. This time Sweden is in any case the clear favourite, just playing on their own level can bring them victory... Well, who knows, maybe this time the final game is our best game - one does hope!

BobDobolina · 05-13-2011, 04:12 PM

Anyone else feel like they have been here before?
-Sweden loses a game to play an easier opponent
-Russia beats Canada in a tight game
-Sweden beats the Czechs by a large margin in the one semi-final and the Finns shut out the Russians with a really impressive performance

So I'm predicting a one goal win for Sweden in the Final and bronze for the Czechs.

D1az · 05-13-2011, 04:14 PM

I will bet a some money on Sweden tomorrow.
That will be seen as my sacrifice to the hockeygods and in case they fail to deliver I'll at least get some money back.