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24th June 2026 - Josef Nudera, foto: Kristýna Dvouletá

Slovaks Ready For Quarterfinals After Win Over Finland, Rematch Awaits Friday

The final game of the group stage pitted Slovakia against Finland. Slovakia entered the match as the favourite, but had to wait until the closing stages of the first period for the opening goal. Early in the second period, the Slovaks added another goal to build on their lead. Finland scored its first goal in the 26th minute, merely reducing the deficit to 1–3. The clash between two teams that will meet again in Friday’s quarterfinal went Slovakia’s way, as the Slovaks eventually secured a 5–2 victory. Even Finland’s decision to play without a goaltender did not change the outcome.

Ostravar Aréna

5-2
(1:0, 2:1, 2:1)

Slovakia - Finland

Penalties
2:3
PPG
2:0
SHG
0:0
Shots on goal
17:6
Statistics

Goals and assists

15. Klema (Dubeň, Stümpel), 18. Stümpel (Martinusík, Salajka), 25. Straka (Korbáš), 37. Benko (Mikula, Gajdoš), 42. Klema (Straka, Korbáš) – 26. Mäenalanen (Herpin), 38. Mourujärvi (Jokirinne, Jeskanen)

Referees

Eric Robertson, Petr Rybon

Spectators

110

Slovakia

Surák - Dubeň, I. Gajdoš, Kozák, Lopušan, Mikula, Revaj, Salajka, Stümpel, Šulik - Balát, Benko, Hryzák, Klema, Korbáš, Lipiansky, Martinusík, Mráz, Olejník, Piják, Pisarovič, Straka, Šatka

Finland

Laine - Keskinen, Liedes, Marjeta, Meri, Tapper, Vanttaja, Viitanen, Wolin - A. Herpin, Hyvönen, Jeskanen, Jokirinne, Kangas, Koskela, Koskinen, Kylmäniemi, Kärkkäinen, Mourujärvi, Mäenalanen, Painilainen, Pietsalo, Sirkkala

COACHES´ REACTIONS

Antti Koskela (FIN): "My first thoughts are that it was a tight battle. We did well in the areas we had promised each other, so I am pleased, and it was a good game for us. We have our plans to adapt our game, so we played like this today, and on Friday we will have a different plan."

Milan Rampáček (SVK): "These are difficult games when you already know that everything is decided regarding the quarterfinalists, and you even know your upcoming opponent. I would probably grade our performance with a C. We played without emotion and without intensity. This simply cannot happen to the boys at the World Championship. I told them in the locker room that for some of them, this might be their last tournament. They have to enjoy every single game and give it their all, so it doesn't come back to haunt us later. We need to drastically change our mindset before Friday because everything starts in the head. Today, our heads, legs, and hands just weren't there, and it all piled up. But it's behind us now, we will rest up, and we are looking forward to Friday."

Photogallery

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