We shoot, at the goal! The Czechs have already trained in Prague. Indications of formations and tempo

The Czech lineup is still not complete. The red cross was definitively added to Tomáš Hertl’s name on Tuesday, while the green whistle was attributed to David Kämpf by general manager Petr Nedvěd. The Toronto striker will strengthen the national team on Thursday, which will probably throw the planned formations.

On a cloudy afternoon, the quartet David Špaček, Pavel Kousal, Lukáš Sedlák and Jáchym Kondelík were the first to step onto the ice surface of the O2 arena together with the goalkeepers. Mainly because they couldn’t wait any longer. “You’re looking forward to it, I didn’t even manage to fall asleep. Even if my knees are sticking out of the bed,” laughed the nearly two-meter-tall Kondelík.

The coach threw the much more agile Jakub Flek and Ondřej Beránek into the attack, their swift movement seemed fresh. They also ventilated the defense several times and put the puck behind Petr Mrázek or Lukáš Dostál.

Karel Vejmelka also stood between the sticks several times, but certainly less often than his competitors. The trend from the Czech Games continues, where the Arizona goalkeeper did not catch a single minute. According to the training indications, he will fulfill the role of the trio even at the beginning of the tournament.

Overall, the Prague unit enjoyed a sharp pace under Rulík’s baton. And when something didn’t seem right to the coach, he wasn’t afraid to show his emotions. Once he even pounded the Plexiglas with a stick. There was no difference in his voice compared to the nomination press conference, where he sounded more like a funeral speech.

“We’re shooting, on goal!” he shouted at a team that had scored just twice in their previous three games against Finland, Sweden and Switzerland. “Tomas, find a centre… You have to find him,” he reprimanded David Tomášek for a change, who combined with overseas ambassadors Dominik Kubalík and Ondřej Palát.

“We were all looking forward, perhaps even to what we would have after training,” smiled Kubalík. “It finally started. But I’m glad we’re getting into it, the body needs it to turn on.’

After a few introductory exercises, the team focused mainly on establishing a five-on-five game. A small group of Finnish scouts, who will face the national team on Friday, also watched the training. The Czechs are doing everything to defeat their Nordic opponent.

Evidence? For example, seasoned fighters Roman Červenka and Ondřej Kaš explained at length how they would like to plan the next attack after an imperfect action. Fullback Radko Gudas joined the discussion, it was more than evident from their serious expressions that they are not talking about which room they are going to cut their marriage on.

The national team wants to be ready. And the organizers, in turn, do everything to ensure that the entire event creates a perfect impression.

However, you can still see certain glitches. While coach Rulík was standing by the changing table, technicians were pasting advertising banners near him. On the cube above the ice, there was a false warning about work at heights, and for everyone present to vacate the stands. At the same time, Sparta’s coach and assistant in the Czech team, Pavel Gross, and the coach of the Czech 20 team, Patrik Augusta, also found their place in the audience.

They observed a focused but not tense atmosphere. Assistant Marek Židlický evoked the most cheerful reaction, who missed the device and had to do push-ups during the challenge, when the defenders driving with their backs to the goal shot from a turn.

“There will be no simple match here. The Finns bring the best they have. Just good! We played with them recently, Prague is a big attraction for everyone. I believe that we will prepare,” Kubalík said after the training with all seriousness.