Star hockey forward Jaromír Jágr believes that despite the unsuccessful entry into the World Cup and the historic defeat with Austria, the Czech national team will succeed at the tournament in Finland. The two-time world champion understands that fans want the national team to show great performances from the beginning of the tournament, but according to him, the key is to advance to the playoffs. Only there is a decision on success.
“I know from my experience that hares count after the hunt. Czech hockey fans would of course like the team to come to the World Cup and win all the matches from the beginning. And they won the last one in the final. The reality is completely different, the teams are balanced. The details really matter, “Jágr said at the State Printing House of Securities, where the last phase of printing a commemorative card in the form of a banknote issued for his February 50s was personally present today.
Jágr has competed at the World Championships ten times and has experienced a number of difficult situations in tournaments. “During my career, I was in teams where we had trouble getting out of the starting group and we won in the end. On the other hand, I was in teams where we lost only one match and finished third. And we played the best hockey.” pointed out the legendary 68s.
“It’s also about luck. I believe that the team will come together and deliver better performances than before. Now nothing matters. The most important thing is to get among the four in the group and advance to the elimination fights,” said the playing owner of the extra-league Kladno.
The most productive European in NHL history realizes that Czech fans were delighted after winning the Czech and Swedish Games before the World Cup. But it is similar every year.
“The fans are always excited. But more or less they judge everything according to the last match. When you win the last, you are the best, when you lose it, you are the worst. But it is not,” said Jágr.
He had an example at hand. “We don’t have to go far. The last world champions Canada lost the first three matches and finally won. They got into the elimination fights with luck and won. Everything is possible and it only depends on the players how they get away with it and go to the next fights,” he pointed out. last year’s championship and poor entry of overseas selection into it.
Jaromír Jágr Photo: Roman Mareš / Knights of Kladno
The next match awaits the national team today, when they will face Latvia. A possible failure would be a significant complication in the fight to advance to the quarterfinals. Jágr is calm even with regard to the experience from 2010, when the Czechia was very close to the historical progression to the playoffs and eventually won gold.
“Every match is important. In 2010 in Germany we needed to win the last three matches to get to the playoffs. We did it and you are already on the winning wave. It’s going with you. I think that was the key to Maybe if we didn’t play the last three matches for everything, we would never have won in 2010, “said Jágr.
The national team in the NHL, David Pastrňák from Boston, currently completed the national team at the World Championships, and Jágr believes that he will be a significant reinforcement. However, an experienced attacker is also aware of possible adaptation problems.
“He is by far our best player today. Every such player will help. It will matter if he is 100% healthy. From my own experience I can say that it is really not easy to play in the World Cup. Even if you play the NHL and you are one of the best players in the world. “Players are focused on you, no one will give you anything for free. If someone thinks that he will come from the NHL and dominate here, that is not true. I know this from my experience,” Jágr warned Pastrňák from a distance.
“There have been a few tournaments I’ve been really worried about and I’ve been glad I was at least a little valid for the team,” he said.
Jágr is also watching the World Cup in Finland because of Kladno. He is trying to find possible reinforcements for the Knights. “Rather, I looked at teams that no one expects to be high. France and Austria,” the famous striker said.
“Because if there was a player who would fit into our team. If he was free. I have to say that these teams pleasantly surprised me, they play disciplinedly, with good defense and there are a lot of quality players,” he explained. .
He came to a number of players that he would like to hire. “I liked almost everyone. They really are good players and the types I like – strong on the puck, in personal fights. You don’t have to go out of speed. This is the hockey that I prefer and want us to play. I’m looking for players mainly for strength. hockey, “he said.
His Kladno started “dry” preparations for the next extra-league season on Monday, Jágr is said to have been training for a long time. “I started training right after the season, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to play 100%,” he said.
“There are only two options. Either I will have it, I will feel good and I will feel that I can help the team. Then I will try to stay in shape and play. If not, I will train,” Jágr added, reiterating that it is not determined to continue his playing career next season.
