Artis Abols | Photo: “Zemgale/LBTU”
Hockey coach Artis Abols In the “Buffet” podcast, he shared his thoughts on the perspectives of the Latvian national team, Sweden’s desire for revenge and waiting for Artūrs Šilov.
“I don’t know why the US and Canada [tā bruņojas], the Swedes can be understood, their last medal, I don’t know, was in 2016? And reading the Swedish press, they have one word – revenge. I wonder when there were medals, last year a coach of the new generation was signed for four years, all the Eurotours were won, and hop – loss in the quarter finals. And if there was another loss to Canada, that would be it, but here they will not wash themselves, because they lost to Latvia, which is not a top 3 team,” emphasizes the specialist.
“I don’t think that Latvia will have any kind of decline. Of course, it will be very difficult to get bronze, the quarter-final is not guaranteed, just like it was not guaranteed last year. I don’t like watching the first three games being opponents of our level. What does it mean? I like what Bob said when he came in – I don’t know anything, the game says at 0-0, five on five. There is no 1.8 million against ten million [iedzīvotāju].”
The coach also commented on leaving a free place in the application in case Shilovs can join the national team. “This is the question that I asked Edgar Masalskis this morning – how does Elvis Merzlikins feel now, when we leave a free place for Artūrs Šilovs in the application. But we have to look at it from the other side – how should we say now – we are waiting for Blüger and Balinski, but not for Shilov? Let’s imagine – Shilovs arrives, then let the coaches puzzle over who will be in the goal. We know – when Elvis is on the wave, then everyone stands and shouts “Elvi, Elvis”. We wished him luck – let him stand in the goal and not let anyone in, everyone will be happy.”
It has already been announced that Ābols will work as an expert in the “Latvijas Televīzijas” studio during the WC.
From a national team coach to an expert – Ābols will work in the LTV studio during the WC
