“Defeat is like victory” – Polish media are delighted with the match with the Latvian national team

The Polish national team has returned to the hockey elite for the first time since 2002, and, as TVP Sport commentator Stanislav Snopek said before the championship, every point the team earns will be a surprise.

Although the Poles lost in overtime, they won one point in the standings.

The Polish media Onet.pl praises the national team for its excellent play and notes that the hockey players surprised the Latvian national team with their performance: “Kaspars Daugavins scored a golden goal for Latvia.

However, the Poles can consider this result a great success at the beginning of the World Cup, because they were one step away from a big sensation.”

“We lost in overtime to last year’s World Championship winners with a score of 4:5. We were in the lead for most of the match. A great performance by the Hockey Eagles – we have a point, and most importantly, confidence that we can play and win here. Great job!” – writes TVP Sport and Viaplay commentator Michal Ruzel on his account on the social network “X”.

Maciej Brezinski, sports journalist for the media outlet SuperExpress, also emphasizes the fact that the point was obtained once morest a team that was on the podium last year: “Poland waited 22 years to play in the elite. They performed as the weakest team (on paper) and immediately met last year’s bronze medalists. This overtime loss felt like a victory. What a match, what emotions. Incredible”

On the other hand, journalist of the portal “SportoweFakty” Rafal Smolinski draws attention to the fact that the Poles might have won this game, and notes – “we have a point that just needs to be respected.”