Translated material
Nerve games
The Swedish leg of the Eurotour starts today
The third stage of the Eurotour in Sweden has always been difficult for the Russian team. Some players tried to skip him, and once the coach of the national team refused to go to Stockholm. In addition, the team did not always perform successfully in Scandinavia.2005 Coach's refusal
The most amazing season was 2004/05. In February 2005, no one knew who would take the national team to Sweden. The fact is that after the Moscow stage, Zinetul Bilyaletdinov made it clear that he had absolutely no time for the national team. He found a job at Ak Bars and wants to focus on working for the club.
Bilyaletdinov was persuaded to stay, but at the same time everyone openly laughed at the head coach’s salary proposed by the Hockey Federation. The specialist did not refer to money, making it clear that happiness does not lie in it. As a result, the team was taken to Sweden for the tournament by Vladimir Yurzinov Sr. and Vladimir Plyushchev. This duo of completely different specialists did not bring any special laurels. The team even managed to lose to the hosts - 2:3. But the Swedish team was completely dismantled at the tournament. Three team hockey players were detained on suspicion of rape. The Russian team took third place, and Bilyaletdinov finally left.
2006 “Yes, he’s not right in the head.”
This stage took place in April, since the Olympic Games were held in February. The last test of strength before the World Championships in Riga turned out to be very nervous for Vladimir Krikunov. Goalkeeper Vasily Koshechkin did not arrive at the training camp without explanation. The goalkeeper, who has now been removed from Ak Bars, behaved quite inappropriately even then, refusing to comply with the rules and decency.
Sergei Zinoviev, the Ak Bars striker, also did not come to Novogorsk. Krikunov shrugged his shoulders when asked about the player. “Gone,” the coach shrugged. - If you find it, tell me. Or remind me to call back.” Then it turned out that Zinoviev almost ended up at the center of a doping scandal, it seems that prohibited substances were found in his tests. The sharp-tongued Krikunov immediately began making sarcastic comments, and later the hockey player himself stated that he was offended by the coach.
Many were surprised by the absence of defender Evgeny Varlamov, but what was even more surprising was the coach’s answer about the reasons for the defensive player’s absence. “Yes, he’s not right in the head,” said Krikunov. True, after some time, appreciating the pause, he added. “In the truest sense of the word. “He just can’t recover from the injury he received in his clash with Alexei Emelin.”
The tournament turned out to be interesting for our team. Our team missed a lot, scored even more (they beat the Swedes - 7:5, the Czechs - 7:5) and took first place. There was still a failure at the World Championships. Having spent the entire group stage in one breath, the Russian team lost to the Czechs in the quarterfinals.
2007 And again Koshechkin and Zinoviev
Vyacheslav Bykov, appointed to the post of head coach less than six months ago, was confronted for the first time with the behavior of some hockey players. Thus, Vasily Koshechkin referred to the fact that he was “physically and psychologically tired,” locked himself in his apartment and turned off his phones. Sergei Zinoviev was experiencing another crisis. Before the list of players for the national team was announced, he reported an injury, made sure that his name was not among the 22 hockey players, and then in the next round he took to the ice and even scored a goal. “I was sure that Sergei was injured,” Bykov was surprised. “So I was deceived!”
But Sergei Mozyakin returned to the team, who offended Vyacheslav Bykov by refusing to sign a new contract with CSKA. The transfer first to Omsk (for one month) and then to Khimik deprived him of the opportunity to play for the national team at three stages of the Eurotour. Our team lost to Sweden - 2:6. This was Bykov's first defeat in his new position. The team took second place in Stockholm, but still won the Eurotour. At the World Championships in Moscow the team took third place.
2008 Absence of Morozov
The most unexpected personnel decision of Vyacheslav Bykov before this stage was the refusal of the services of the Kazan team led by Alexei Morozov. “I didn’t call Alexey about this,” Bykov clarified. “But I’m glad that he’s surprised by this decision.” This means there is a desire to play for the national team.”
Only one newcomer is going to Stockholm - Evgeny Biryukov from Metallurg Magnitogorsk. The team is faced with the task of winning, but no one understands why this needs to be done. From this squad, at best, two or three players will go to the World Cup. The rest are thinking more about the upcoming playoffs in the Russian Championship. However, this team is still stronger than its competitors on the Eurotour. The rest of the opponents simply evaluate the hockey players from the very beginning, without setting them any sporting goals.