Report: Sweden considers final game options

[Madferret]

Report: Sweden considers final game options
TSN.ca Staff

Swedish Olympic hockey coach Bengt-Ake Gustafsson has the hockey world buzzing following comments which suggest they may not put forth a full effort in today's final round-robin game against Slovakia.

Gustafsson told Swedish television that he was "debating" what would be best for the team as it heads into the game.

Sweden currently sits at 3-1 in Group B, which leaves them in third place. As it stands now, Sweden will face Switzerland, which has clinched second place in Group A.

If Sweden were to defeat Slovakia and Russia lose to the United States, it could finish as high as first or second and that would leave them to face either Canada or the Czech Republic, depending on the outcome of their game today.

The Globe and Mail reports that a Swedish internet website which published the coaches remarks had received negative reaction from readers, who insisted that the team give a full effort in today's game.

Aside from the opening game of the tournament, Henrik Lundqvist has carried the load for Sweden in goal. But reports suggest the team is prepared to start Mikael Tellqvist, who has not seen one minute of action at the Olympics, in goal today against Slovakia.

Sundin's idea no doubt...(j/k)

[Max Power]

Slovakia has been great so far so throwing a game may not be an option for them to decide.
But I agree this smells like Sundin being ?afraid? =]

[Newfie John]

I don't know guys. Looks like a good time for one of those Alfie gauruntees.

[Madferret]

I don't know guys. Looks like a good time for one of those Alfie gauruntees.

lol
touche

[charlio lemieux]

They could say the team caught Forsbergitis and all have to nurse nagging groin injuries.

[Mel]

This is a very "loser-ish" way to think... They should believe they can win no matter who they play.

But announcing it to the media is just plain stupid. :conspire:


Game fix? IIHF to monitor 'tank' move by SwedenBy Scott Burnside

TORINO, Italy -- The International Ice Hockey Federation will be monitoring Tuesday's game between Sweden and Slovakia after Swedish coach Bengt Ake Gustafsson suggested he wouldn't mind if his team lost or tied its last preliminary-round game so they could face Switzerland and avoid Canada or the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals Wednesday.

"This is the biggest stage that hockey has. We are being watched by a potential 3.2 billion people in 200 countries," IIHF spokesman Szymon Szemberg said Tuesday. We don't want game previews to be about tanked games. This is not our objective. So this is definitely not the exposure we want."

IIHF president Rene Fasel was not pleased with Gustafsson's comments, made after the team's workout Monday, and how they might reflect on one of the Olympics' showcase sports.

"He's disappointed. He felt that those comments were out of place. He feels that they could potentially harm the integrity of the tournament," Szemberg said.

Switzerland is the surprise team of the men's tournament. They upset Canada and the Czech Republic in preliminary-round play and tied Italy on Tuesday to secure the second seed in Pool A. Still, the team has only three NHLers on its roster (two are goalies) and is seen as the weakest team in the eight-team playoff field. As a result, there has been much debate about how teams in Pool B might adjust their play in the final preliminary-round games Tuesday to try and gain that matchup in Wednesday's quarterfinals. The third-place team in Pool B will play the Swiss and the Swedes began the day in third, tied in points with Russia and two points behind undefeated Slovakia.

"Of course Switzerland is an easier opponent," Gustafsson told Swedish reporters Monday. "A team like Canada might be easier to beat in the quarterfinal than in the final. But on the other hand, it's plague or cholera. We'll have to handle this in a professional way to make the right decision.

"We're discussing inside the group what is good and not good. It's a sticky situation," Gustafsson added. "Of course that's the question. If you're going to win, or play a good game that is 0-0. Those are the thoughts going through my head but it's difficult.

"Switzerland might be an easier team than others," he went on. "It's going to be difficult. We'll try to handle this in the most professional way as possible."

Told of the comments, Swiss coach Ralph Krueger said he figures it will be good motivation for his players on Wednesday.

"In general terms, I expect all teams to show respect in all situations as we do in ours," Krueger said. "I'm sure it won't hurt in terms of having my players ready for [Wednesday]."

Although the IIHF has no protocol in place to discipline teams that purposely tank games, they will be closely monitoring the Sweden/Slovakia game set for 8:05 p.m. in Torino.

Each game has a game supervisor, in this case the Finnish member of the IIHF directorate, Kalervo Kummola, who will monitor the Swedish game and then report back to the directorate late Tuesday evening.

If there is reason to suggest the Swedes didn't compete to the best of their ability, Szemberg said the directorate, the governing body of the IIHF, could impose a fine or other penalty.

"There is definitely room for them to set a precedent," Szemberg.

The question will be how to determine if the Swedes are doing just enough not to win. One reporter suggested a good clue would be if they start Kim Martin, the Swedish women's goaltender. Or if Peter Forsberg plays goal or defense.

"You know as well as I know, it's extremely difficult to pinpoint [whether a team has lost intentionally]. How can you tell?" Szemberg said.
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/winter06/hockey/columns/story?id=2338153

The way to handle it in the most professional way possible is to go out there and compete no matter who the opponent is. Those comments show a great lack of class.

[Newfie John]

I hope they lose and the Swiss beat them.

[MadDevil]

Here's hoping Switzerland is the Belarus of 2006 for the Swedes.:thumb:

[Mel]

So Sweden fails to score a goal in their final prelim game vs. Slovakia managing only 17 shots on goal (10 over the final 2 periods)...

Then they get the matchup they wanted today and win easily 6-2.

I smell a rat and his name is Gustafssonsnsfnnssnfnss!!!!

[Madferret]

So Sweden fails to score a goal in their final prelim game vs. Slovakia managing only 17 shots on goal (10 over the final 2 periods)...

Then they get the matchup they wanted today and win easily 6-2.

I smell a rat and his name is Gustafssonsnsfnnssnfnss!!!!

Jim Hughson had a great quote during that game..'This game has all the intensity of a bubble bath'

[Amoroq]

Jim Hughson had a great quote during that game..'This game has all the intensity of a bubble bath'LOL I just about spit up my swedish meatballs when I was wacthing that. I found a funny bit on a blog.


Well, well, well, Bengt-Anke Gustaffsson. Tommy Salo has a room waiting for you if you lose to Switzerland today. A day after Coach Swede implied that his team should lose to Slovakia in order to play Switzerland in the medal round, Sweden loses 3-0 and fire just 17 shots on net. Sweden had a 5 on 3 for over a minute and got no shots on net. The IIHF investigated late last night, but found no evidence of Sweden throwing the game. Whether they did or did not throw the game, it`s a bad Ikea to ever mention that you are better off losing a game.

[Madferret]

It was pretty obvious wasn't it?

[Newfie John]

Anybody see the interview with Sundin? Sundin couldn't even look at the cameras while saying "We tried as hard as we could".

[Madferret]

Anybody see the interview with Sundin? Sundin couldn't even look at the cameras while saying "We tried as hard as we could".

lol
Dirty Sundin..

[wildboy26]

They won easily so they made the right choice. Good for them. Olympics are all about getting the best result possable at any expense, except for using drugs.

[Newfie John]

It says something for their pride though, willing to lose a game on purpose. If I was on a team and any of my coaches suggested that, I'd quit the team on the spot. Turns my stomach honestly.

[THE HACK]

Any chances the Swedes will throw the Gold Medal game!;)

This Swede team can skate and the chemistry between these players is something!Mats "the mangler" Sundin came to play today and he looked awesome playing with a chip on his shoulder.Losing to Slovakia turned out to be a good thing as the worst the Swedes can do is fininsh with a Silver medal.And how about the Sedin twins,these 2 rock!:thumb:

Cheers

[Madferret]

Hey Hack is Yngwie Swedish or is he from one of the other scandinavian countries?

[Mel]

Yngwie is a swede. He's also stuck in the 80's....



http://www.yngwie.org/images/Hdr3b2.jpg


http://www.yngwie.org/

[Madferret]

Euro Wanker

In any event, this is turning out much like I earlier predicted.