The Swedish national team is without a medal at the Women’s World Floorball Championships for the first time in its history. The game against Finland decided the matter. Team Suomi scored another big victory, taking glory from the Swedes at the World Games in August and also now in Ostrava. The final day of the World Floorball Championships began with the match for fifth place between Latvia and Norway. Seventh place was claimed by Slovakia, who defeated Denmark 7:6.
Bronze game: Sweden – Finland 4:6 (1:3, 2:1, 1:2)
The bronze-medal match was contested in an all-Nordic setting for the first time in history. Two giants of world floorball faced off to determine which of them would, for the very first time, leave the World Floorball Championships without a medal. In the end, it was Sweden who were left empty-handed. Although the Swedes repeatedly cut the deficit and even drew level at 3–3 in the 26th minute, they were unable to complete the comeback and had to accept defeat. It marks the first time in history that Tre Kronor finish a Women’s World Floorball Championships without a single medal, ending a nine-year reign at the top of the world. Finland, on the other hand, celebrate a hugely valuable victory — not only claiming the bronze medal, but also defeating their arch-rivals for the first time since May 2007. Finland secured a 6–4 win in the third-place match thanks largely to captain Veera Kauppi, who was involved in three of the six goals (1+2). Her sister Oona Kauppi also played a key role, scoring two crucial goals.
5th place: Norway – Latvia 3:5 (3:2, 0:0, 0:3)
The final day’s program got underway in the main arena already on Sunday morning. In the battle for the final fifth place, Norway and Latvia faced off against each other. The Baltic side gradually found its rhythm and around the sixth minute began to take control of the game, which was confirmed by two quick successive goals. After the halfway point of the first period, however, Norway struck for the first time as well, following a beautiful one-touch combination finished into an empty net by Line Terjesen. The Scandinavians then turned the score in their favor and, still in the opening period, took the lead for the first time in the match. After a five-goal first period, both teams tightened up, and no goals were scored in the middle twenty minutes. The scoring resumed in the third period, with all three goals ending up in the Norwegian net. Latvia completed yet another comeback and, after a 5-3 victory, finished fifth at the World Floorball Championships.
7th place: Denmark – Slovakia 6:7 (1:1, 1:3, 4:3)
Slovakia faced Denmark in the match for seventh place at the tournament. The first goal, scored in front of the spectators at Ostravar Arena B, came from Denmark’s Lina Voldby. The Slovak team then initiated a comeback, as Kristína Belicová, a forward from Prague-based Chodov, found the net twice. Shortly thereafter, the score was equalised through Marie Abilgaard. Before the end of the middle period, the Slovak side, coached by Czech head coach Michal Jedlička, regained the lead with two quick successive goals. These were scored by another ČEZ Extraliga player, Paulína Hudáková, who wears the colours of Ostrava’s FBC. Daniela Hrabovská followed with an alert finish. In the closing stages of the match, a goal-filled exchange ensued, with the Danish team adding significant drama to the contest. Ultimately, Slovakia secured a 7-6 victory and celebrated seventh place at the World Championships. Player of the Match Belicová completed a hat trick, while Hudáková also added one more goal to her tally. Four Slovak players brought their international careers to a close in Ostrava: Katarína Klapitová, Kristína Belicová, and sisters Paulína and Kristína Hudáková, who will not add further appearances in the national team jersey.
