The Latvian national hockey team is going to the World Cup as medalists. What’s waiting for her there?

Last year, Latvian hockey players sensationally became bronze medalists at the World Championship, winning the first medals in the history of Latvian hockey. Having started the tournament with two defeats, the Latvians continued to show their fighting capacity, character and skill, reaching the medal matches. On the way to the podium in the subgroup, our guys beat the traditionally “inconvenient” teams of the Czech Republic and Switzerland, in the quarterfinals – the Swedes, and in the fight for bronze in extra time they defeated the US hockey players.

The draw decided that at this year’s World Championship the Latvian team will play the first three matches against the nominally weakest teams in the subgroup, and then a fight with the strongest will follow. Some consider this a good sign: if the team is not yet in optimal shape, then skill should ensure victory over not the strongest opponents. Others cross themselves: “God forbid they lose, then you won’t be able to collect the spilled water with a sieve.”

The first opponent of the Latvian national team in subgroup “B” in Ostrava on May 11 at 17:20 will be the Polish team, which last year competed in the first division and returned to the elite after a 22-year break. Then on May 12, Latvia will meet with France, on May 14 – with Kazakhstan, on May 15 – with Germany, on May 18 – with Sweden, on May 19 – with Slovakia, and in the final game of the group on May 21, the Latvians will compete with hockey players from the USA, who last year surpassed in the fight for bronze medals.

All matches of the Latvian national team can be followed live on LTV7.

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