2023-05-23 08:30:01
On Tuesday (from 7:10 p.m. on RTS 2), the cry of encouragement “Sarauj, Latvija” uttered by Latvian supporters will resound in the Riga Arena. The Garnets, if they intend to continue their journey in “their” World Cup, will undoubtedly be forced to snatch a point once morest the Swiss team. Guaranteed to finish 1st in Group B, Patrick Fischer’s troupe will play a match “for butter” once morest Toms Andersons et Cie.
Hockey is the national sport in Latvia, the nation ranked 11th in the IIHF. During this World Championship, the games of the Garnet team were all played in a packed Riga Arena – with a capacity of 9,550 spectators.
The Baltic country has a long tradition in this area, having produced many world-class players in the past. We can cite, for example, the goalkeepers Vitalijs Samoilovs and Arturs Irbe, the defenders Sandis Ozolins and Karlis Skrastins, or the attackers Helmuts Balderis and Sergejs Zoltoks.
Never better than 7th
Back in the IIHF in 1991 following the end of the Russian occupation and the fall of the USSR, Latvia never did better than 7th in a World Cup. And this on 3 occasions, the last time in 2009 in Bern. The most beautiful pages in the history of Latvian hockey therefore remain to be written.
If not so long ago, the meetings between Latvians and Helvetians were quite close, Switzerland now seems to have taken the upper hand. However, it has nothing to expect from its 7th and last match in group B, its 1st place being acquired before kick-off. Patrick Fischer’s troupe therefore risks not going all out, in order to preserve their energy for the quarter-finals…
As long as we’re successful, I’m happy
Toms Andersons (29) and Co. find themselves in the opposite situation. They will indeed want to do everything to snatch the 4th and last qualifying place for the quarter-finals. “Switzerland is clearly the best team in this pool. It will be a difficult game. We will however have our destiny in our hands“, says the striker from La Chaux-de-Fonds.
If the Helvetians leave with the favors of the prognosis, the fervor of the local public might however give wings to the formation coached by Harijs Vitolins, the ex-scorer of Rapperswil and Chur. “I hope so… But following all these years spent in Switzerland, I know that the Swiss fans are just as fantastic. There may also be a duel in the stands at the level of the atmosphere“, thinks Andersons.
In 6 games so far during his 1st World Cup, the player trained at CP Bern has scored 1 goal and 1 assist. How to satisfy him? “As long as we’re successful, I’m happy“, declares the ex-right winger of Langnau.
It was hard to lose once morest Ajoie
![Toms Andersons in action at the 2023 Worlds. [Salvatore Di Nolfi - Keystone]](https://www.rts.ch/2023/05/22/21/31/14042589.image?w=320&h=320)
At La Chaux-de-Fonds, Andersons also experienced the joys of the Swiss League title last season. But it went hand in hand, in stride, with the defeat in the promotion/relegation play-off once morest Ajoie.
“As an individual, I had the best season of my careersays the one who scored 94 points in 64 games with the Bees in 2022/23. But it was not the expected ending. It was hard to lose once morest Ajoie. It’s hockey… We’ll do better next year“, promet Andersons.
From Riga, Michaël Taillard
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