WFCQ 2019: Germany - Russia 8:4 (4:1, 3:3, 1:0)

Sunday morning in Trencin started with a clash between Russia and Germany. The winner of that match would get the direct ticket to Neuchatel, in case of a tie, both made it to Switzerland. However, the potential loser, who would then end up third, had a comparably bad position in the Wildcard Race of the cross-group qualification system. Germany was killed in that category by a too-close victory against Spain, Russia mainly by the 0:13 second period demonstration of the Finnish team against them. Estonia would definitely be better than the loser of the match, all other candidates (Denmark, Norway, Hungary, Netherlands) had a good chance to pass that team as well.

There is a designated full size picture gallery for this match.

Germany vs. Russia – Match Report

In the first some minutes, the match was as it likely had to be expected. Germany acted from a solid defense and allowed Russia to play. There were hardly any chances for the Russians to score, while there were some more dangerous-looking shots by Simon Brechbühler’s team. Nevertheless, it was Anastasiia Bulbash to score the first goal, when she was waiting for a Vera Pelevina pass on the right side of the goal. In a unsorted situation, Russian Mariia Kitaeva was lying in the goalkeeper’s area blocking a German shot. The German captain Alena Holst took the responsibility and nailed the penalty shot to tie the score.

More and more, it was the German first line with Holst, Randi Kleerbaum and Anna-Lena Best, who caused trouble to the Russians. They also played some fore-checking, which did not suit the Russians too well. Best scored the second German goal of the match in the 7th minute, stealing the ball from the opposite defense and going for the straight shot. Carla Benndorf raised the score after 13 minutes, while Best took opportunity of another uncontrolled situation of the Russian defense. 4:1 – the Russian team looked more the one played the second period against Finnland before. Nevertheless, they still had some nice chances, epecially by the strong first line offense with Bulbash, Pelevina and Kitaeva.

Two Minutes later – Russia is back in the match

That Simon Brechbühler had to take the time-out after 22 minute despite that first period tells a lot about what happened in between. Russia scored twice in the 22nd minute, by Elizaveta Nadeeva and by Kitaeva and took profit of German defensive mistakes. Kseniia Makkoveeva even tied the score after 27 minutes, but instead of taking over the control of the match, the gave it back to Germany. Best took the deciding moment for that comeback: her shot from central position seemed to be blocked by Iana Beletskaya, but the ball just deflected and went high over the surprised Russian goalie.

The German player of the match so far was their captain, though: Alena Holst started a fast break in the 29th minute, tapped the ball to Best, who gave the deciding pass to Winona Jürgens’ first national team goal. Holst got the assist for the seventh German goal, when she again acted quick out of the German defense and served Laura Hönicke, who aimed for the hammer. Russia was out of the match again, Germany deserved to lead after forty minutes.

Germany sets sails to Neuchatel in the third period

Kleerbaum scored the first goal of the third period after 70 seconds. From now on, Germany had full control of the match. The Russian potential did come up very rarely in this period – and though Brechbühler was shouting and sometimes acted a bit nervous, I felt that his team did a brave job. There was no Russian strategy which really could make you imagine that the Russians would come back with this four goal handicap. No more goals in the third period, Germany made it and qualified for the World Floorball Championships.

Germany vs. Russia – My View of the Match

The difference in this match to me was coaching. I would say, Russia and Germany at least have equivalent potential, I would even judge that Russia is the stronger team. But after showing it twenty minutes against Russia, they at most did it for ten against Germany. That made it too easy for the Germans, who showed heart and spirit, even when the Russians tied the score and gave their opponent the threatening thoughts that the only German role in Neuchatel could be the tourist one. There are still minor theoretic chances for Russia to qualify into Switzerland, but I would say they would not deserve that massive luck necessary to travel with Germany to the holy land of women floorball.

Germany vs. Russia – Lineups

Germany: 69 Nancy Gatzsch, 30 Indra Reck – 2 Vanessa Weikum, 4 Alexandra Kurth, 5 Pauline Baumgarten, 6 Wiebke Richter, 7 Jana Baccus, 8 Julia Diesner, 9 Carla Benndorf, 10 Winona Jürgens, 11 Anna-Lena Best, 12 Theresa Beppler-Alt, 13 Laura Hönicke, 15 Elena Bröker, 18 Randi Kleerbaum, 20 Alena Holst, 23 Frederike Strahl, 26 Kisa Reck, 33 Johanne Busse

Russia: 61 Iana Beletskaya, 98 Elena Savrasova- 4 Alina Prokhovora, 6 Mariia Kitaeva, 7 Tatiana Kozlova, 8 Vera Pelevina, 9 Anastasiia Skirdenko, 10 Mayya Lytorova, 11 Elizaveta Nadeeva, 14 Sofia Rumiantseva-Mishina, 17 Alena Zhulina, 18 Armine Nersesian, 19 Viktoria Trusevich, 21 Olga Krylova, 25 Ksenia Rapakova, 29 Ekaterina Panfilova, 41 Ksenia Makkoveeva, 90 Mariia Basargina, 92 Elena Kolodiazhnaia, 99 Anastasiia Bulbash