Finland – Italy 6:3 (end) | India – Switzerland 0:5 (cont.) | Czech Republic – Greece 4:3 (end)
USA – Portugal 8:2 (end) | Slovakia – Canada 6:4 (end)
final
Czech Republic
4:3 (2:1, 2:1, 0:1)
Greece
Saturday 10.06.2017, 14:10 • Tipsport arena, Pardubice • World Cup (men) • 3rd place
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 14:00.
     
    Good afternoon from Pardubice, where Czech Republic will take on Greece for the third spot in the tournament.
     
    This definetly isn´t what the host from the Czech Republic were hoping for before the start of the tournament. They met their federal rivals in the semis, took them to the shootout after a even game and then lost after the game winning shot by Patrik Svitana.
     
    Greece can be pretty happy with the situation they are in now. The Greeks knocked out the USA in the quarter-finals after overtime thanks to Kuzmarski´s goal.
     
    Starting lineups:

    Czech Republic: Simara (Jirotka) – Benedikt, Dedic, Kudela, Pospisil, Rejthar, Slanec, Svanda, Vlasak, Barnosak, Bily, Brezina, Fejfar, Hnizdil, Bacovsky, Krucek, Kubes, Lux, Peschout, Soukup, Spacek, Stepanik, Wrobel

    Greece: Vrettis (Bitsakis) – Adamou, Barbas, Goulakos, Hinios, Oinios, Rompozinos, Tzaferis, Alvo, Argiris, E. Arkalis, P. Arkalis, M. Barbas, R. Barbas, Kakivelos, Karvouniaris, Klitrinos, Kuzmarski, Pitsikoulis, Romano, Vagenas

    Referees: Marco Friedli, Marian Valachovic.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    00:26
    Robert Barbas won the ball in the Czech third, then lost it afer a hit from the defender.
     
    00:53
    Icing called against the Czech Republic.
     
    01:16
    Greece started active, Joshua Barbas got the ball infront of the goal while facing it with his back, he turned around and pulled off a shot, Simara saves.
     
    02:00
    Goal for Team Czech Republic!
    First shot – first goal! Czech Republic got into a quick counter, Spacek passed the ball to the middle to LUKAS SOUKUP, who beat Vrettis with a shot to the right side of the goal. Assisted by Radim Stepanik and Martin Spacek
    02:00 Soukup (CZE) - 1:0
     
    02:50
    Greeks lost the ball in the attacking third, Czech Republic is attacking now.
     
    03:19
    Goal for Team Greece!
    One minute and nineteen seconds and it´s all even again! PETER ARKALIS got to the ball in the left circle and found a gap between Simara's pads. Assisted by Costa Kakivelos
    03:19 P. Arkalis (GRE) - 1:1
     
    03:58
    Michael Hinios won the ball in the home third, tried passing it into the middle, he missed the orange ball.
     
    04:53
    Shot from the left side by Richard Peschout saved by Vrettis, Greece with the ball.
     
    05:41
    Tomas Wrobel got the ball on the right, passed to his teammate passed it back to him. Wrobel then pulled off a shot, Vrettis saves with his glove.
     
    06:52
    Soukup got the ball off of the defender by the right barrier, tried finding Stepanik in the middle, didn´t succed.
     
    07:17
    Penalty for Greece (Michael Barbas – 2 min., Slashing).
     
    07:52
    Czech Republic with the ball in the attacking zone.
     
    08:09
    Goal for Team Czech Republic!
    Home side converts the power play, it´s 2:1! Tomas Wrobel tried a shot from amongst the two circles, blocked by the defender. Ball then went back to Wrobel, who found TOMAS KUDELA free on the blue line and he beat Vrettis on his left post! Assisted by Tomas Wrobel
    08:09 Kudela (CZE) - 2:1
     
    09:02
    Offside Czech Republic.
     
    09:23
    Lukas Soukup recieved a great pass between the circles, shot first time, hit the left post of the goal!
     
    09:58
    Greek captain fought for the ball behind the Czech Republic very well, but he didn´t manage to win it after all.
     
    10:25
    Bacovsky´s shot saved by Vrettis, home side still in the attack.
     
    10:52
    Great play by the Czechs! Tomas Wrobel passed the ball back and forth with his teammate, Wrobel then tried passing the ball to the left side where Fejfar was completly free, the ball bounced over his stick! If it wouldn't, it probably would've been a goal.
     
    12:21
    Home side was in the attack but then lost the ball, Hinios got the ball in the counter, defence worked well.
     
    13:04
    Penalty for Czech Republic (Jan Pospisil – 2 min., Hooking).
     
    13:22
    Greeks are with the ball in the attacking zone, they are looking to score a goal to make the score even.
     
    14:03
    Simara saves Alvo's backhand shot from amongst the circles.
     
    14:42
    Another shot by the Greeks, it was Alvo once again, but he couldn't beat Simara this time either.
     
    15:00
    1st period finished.
     
    First period has come to a close. Czech Republic fired first just two minutes in. Then Arkalis made the score even and Tomas Kudela took the lead with a shot from the blue line.
     
    Next period begins at 14:48.
     
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    15:16
    Ball went out of play in the Greek third.
     
    15:54
    Kevin Kuzmarski got the ball in the Czech third, Simara covered it with his glove to make sure the attacking players don't get it.
     
    16:42
    Jan Bily was on the ground after a hard tackle by the Greek player, but he looks to be alright and walked to the bench.
     
    17:25
    Daniel Hnizdil lost the ball in the attacking third. Greece then went on the other end, but they are stopped because of an offisde.
     
    17:51
    Greece got to the attack, Czech defence once again clears the ball.
     
    18:38
    Pavel Kubes defended the ball from the defender. Then the ball was stopped and a little fight started.
     
    18:56
    Backhand shot by Michal Slanec saved by Vrettis.
     
    19:12
    Another shot by Slanec, this time it was from the blue line, he didn´t hit the target.
     
    19:48
    Soukup's shot from the blue was deflected by Bacovsky at the edge of the goal crease, ball then went over the net.
     
    20:20
    Penalty for Greece (Costa Kakivelos – 2 min., Charging).
     
    20:50
    Tomas Wrobel appeared onthe ground after a hard tackle by the defender.
     
    20:50
    Penalty for Greece (Spiro Goulakos – 2 min., High Sticking).
     
    21:12
    Hars shot by Kudela goes wide.
     
    21:34
    Another shot by Kudela, this time it was first time and from the right circle, Vrettis just about got his pad to the ball.
     
    21:57
    Goal for Team Czech Republic!
    Home side converts the five on three powerplay and takes the lead! TOMAS REJTHAR shot from the left circle first time and beat Vrettis! Assisted by Jan Bily and Pavel Kubes
    21:57 Rejthar (CZE) - 3:1
     
    22:24
    Ball went out of play in the Greek zone, faceoff will follow.
     
    23:00
    Penalty for Czech Republic (Jan Simara – 2 min., Tripping). Penalty served by Lukas Soukup.
     
    23:50
    Goal for Team Greece!
    Jan Simara's cost Czech Republic the two goal lead. NICHOLAS PITSIKOULIS got to the ball on the left, got to the middle and beat the Czech goalie. Assisted by Kevin Kuzmarski and Chris Vagenas.
     
    24:19
    A fight took place in the left circle next to Simara's goal.
     
    24:19
    Penalty for Czech Republic (Ondrej Brezina – 2 min., Roughing + 2 min., Roughing).
    Penalty for Greece (Adam Romano – 2 min., Slashing).
    Penalty for Greece (Steve Avo – 2 min., Roughing).
     
    24:56
    Kudela's shot deflected out of the rink.
     
    25:07
    Kudela got to the rebound after Pospisil's goal, only hit the side netting.
     
    26:04
    Goal for Team Czech Republic!
    Home players take the two goal lead back! Czechs got into a quick counter, TOMAS WROBEL recieved a great pass from the left from Tomas Fejfar and delivered the ball into the net. Assisted by Tomas Fejfar and Martin Krucek.
    26:04 Wróbel (CZE) - 4:2
     
    26:38
    Penalty for Greece (Steve Alvo – 2 min., Interference).
     
    26:47
    Shot from the blue line by Dedic easily saved by Vrettis.
     
    27:21
    Martin Kucek got to the deflected ball near the goal crease, his shot went wide.
     
    28:42
    Despite Greece playing in full strength, Czech Republic is still in the attack.
     
    29:16
    Jan Bacovsky recieved a great back pass from Pavel Kubes, he was free infront of the net and hit the post!
     
    End of the second period.
     
    Second period has ended, Czech Republic is leading 4:2 after the goals by Rejthar and Wrobel. Pitskoulis hit the only goal for Greece in the period.
     
    Shots after second period: 27-16
     
    30:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    30:08
    Goal for Team Greece!
    Eight seconds. That's how long it took for Greece to get one back after the start of the period. KEVIN KUZMARSKI got to the ball on the right wing and managed to score past Simara. Assisted by Michael Hinios and Nicholas Pitsikoulis
    30:08 Kuzmarski (GRE) - 4:3
     
    31:03
    Icing Czech Republic, play is returning to Simara's net.
     
    31:32
    Jan Simara is replaced by Jan Jirotka in the Czech goal.
     
    31:57
    Greeks have started this period strong, they aren't letting the Czechs get from their half.
     
    32:33
    Icing Greece.
     
    32:54
    Shot by Dedic from the half way line saved by the pads of Vrettis.
     
    34:07
    Emmanuel Arkalis defended Spacek well, the Czech attacker then got the ball back and sent a dangerous shot goalwards, Vrettis saves.
     
    34:31
    Penalty for Greece (Nicholaos Rompotinos – 2 min., Tripping).
     
    35:07
    Czechs have possesion of the ball, Dedic with it at the blue line.
     
    35:18
    And it was Dedic who pulled off a shot, ball got deflected and went out of the rink.
     
    37:13
    Offside Czech Republic.
     
    37:38
    Greece got into the attacking third, where one of the Czech defenders cleared the ball, icing.
     
    37:44
    Today's attendance is 5,227.
     
    38:03
    Big chance for Greece. The ball went loose in the goal crease after Jirotka's save, Michael Pinios tried getting it into the net but didn't succed.
     
    39:15
    Hard shot from the left side by Kuzmarski ended up on Jirtoka's blocker.
     
    39:35
    Michael Hinios appeared on the ground, it looks like he is holding his face.
     
    39:55
    Czechs are getting under the pressure, shot from the blue line by Goulakos went wide.
     
    40:23
    Another shot for the Greeks, this time from the right barrier, Jirotka saves.
     
    40:45
    Fejfar won the ball in the middle period and waited for a run from his teammates. Tomas Wrobel was free on the left side, got the ball, controlled it, shoots wide!
     
    42:16
    Czechs clear the ball, Greece is on the attack once again.
     
    43:19
    Fejfar won the ball once again, gave it to Slanec this time, who lost it afterwards.
     
    44:10
    Pavel Kubes managed to keep the ball in the attacking zone for like half a minute, the game is paused now.
     
    44:15
    Timeout for Greece.
     
    44:23
    Vrettis is still in his goal for now, but it looks he will come to the bench when Greece get holf of the ball.
     
    44:32
    Penalty for Czech Republic (Tomas Wrobel – 2 min., Holding an Opponent).
     
    44:39
    Greece without a goalkeeper.
     
    44:56
    Jirotka saves the close range effort by Kuzmarski and this match looks like over.
     
    Game over.
     
    Game over. Czech Republic wins this match and take the third place in the tournament. Greece on the other hand can be pretty happy with it's finish.
     
    Best players of the game:
    MIchael Pinios (GRE)
    Lukas Soukup (CZE) (16:10:53)
    Commentary by

    David Klier

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 2. Soukup (Spacek, Stepanik), 9. Kudela (Wrobel), 22. Rejthar (Bily, Kubes), 27. Wrobel (Fejfar, Krucek) – 4. P.Arkalis (Kakivelos), 24. Pitsikoulis (Vagenas, Kuzmarski), 31. Kuzmarski (Pitsikoulis, Hinios)

    Czech Republic: Simara (32. Jirotka) – Benedikt, Dedic, Kudela, Pospisil, Rejthar, Slanec, Svanda, Vlasak, Barnosak, Bily, Brezina, Fejfar, Hnizdil, Bacovsky, Krucek, Kubes, Lux, Peschout, Soukup, Spacek, Stepanik, Wrobel
    Greece: Vrettis (Bitsakis) – Adamou, Barbas, Goulakos, Hinios, Oinios, Rompozinos, Tzaferis, Alvo, Argiris, E. Arkalis, P. Arkalis, M. Barbas, R. Barbas, Kakivelos, Karvouniaris, Klitrinos, Kuzmarski, Pitsikoulis, Romano, Vagenas
    Referees: Marco Friedli, Marian Valachovic
    Attendance: 5,227