MEN´S WFCQ 2018 - EUR3 - Team Presentations

Switzerland, Latvia, Russia, Italia, Hungary and Iceland are all in the Group EUR3, which will compete in Valmiera (Latvia) on the 30.01 – 3.02.2018.

In Europe, there will be 22 teams competing in four qualification groups with three event locations – Tallinn (Estonia), Nitra (Slovakia) and Valmiera (Latvia).

Each team will play once against each of the other teams in their group. Based on the results from these group matches, a total of 10 teams will qualify according to the following:
– The two best teams from each qualification group will qualify; and
– The the two best 3rd placed teams will qualify.

The calculation of the best 3rd teams will follow this order: 1. Average number of points 2. Average goal difference 3. Average scored goals 4. Lottery drawing*
*Since the number of teams between the qualification groups differs, the group sizes will be equalised by removing the results from the matches against the lowest placed teams in the larger-sized group before comparing the average results.

More information about the WFCQ2018 is available here.

Team Presentations

Switzerland

A dynamic team with lots of enthusiasm, skill and speed. We want to play Swiss floorball and win games on our own strengths and performances.

Players to watch

Joel Rüegger: Fantastic intelligence on court. Scores and sets up teammates through splendid vision around the net.
Jan Zaugg: Ball handler, finisher, playmaker and team player in one package. Amazing skills.
Thomas Gfeller: Speedy player with a big heart and an even bigger aerobic capacity. Plays really hard.

#17 J. Ruegger

#5 J. Zaugg

#28 T. Gfeller

Latvia

Latvian national team has started a new chapter in their history. A team that has been known for it´s tough and physical defense and good counter-attacks wants to add well organised offensive game to their list of strength. The team faces first real competetive challenge at WFCQ 2018 in front of its home crowd – the goal is to show the spectators that Team Latvia can play beautiful floorball and get good results.

Players to watch

Janis Ragovskis: Really talented young player. He is skilful and has great understanding of the game which perfectly fits the new Latvian game model.
Gvido Lauga: He is good scorer with excellent shot, dangerous player in offensive zone, but also works hard on defense.
Artis Raitums: Artis is the team´s captain and a great leader inside and outside of the rink. He always finds the right solutions on the field playing with and without the ball.

#7 J. Ragovskis

#13 G. Lauga

#21 A. Raitums

Russia

Updated team, talented young players and young coach with great ambition, as a step to comeback to the floorball elite. Their main goal is to participate in the final round in December 2018 in Prague.

Players to watch

Aleksander Sharapov: Forward and a key player, excellent in ending the game. Many attacks of the national team go through him.
Pavel Semenov: Good playmaker. His main quality is extraordinary technical skills. A lot of national team games during the last 10 years.
Dmitrii Polyakov: In the last WFC tournament he was one of the best national team defenders. Quick, fast, flexible and a variable player.

#4 A. Sharapov

#79 P. Semenov

#10 D. Polyakov

Italy

Italy is a very hard – working and committed team. The team has undergone a generational change during this 2 -year -period and therefore in the team there are various new national team players. The aim for the team is to improve game after, developing and gathering international experience and obviously trying to get the best possible result.

Players to watch

Andrea Iezzi: Very experienced player who has a great game vision and understands the game tactically well.
Dominik Hardegger: An offensive defender, who has a very important role in the team´s build – up. Has the ability to score goals and create chances to others.
Elia Marinello: A very adaptive player, who can cover all the roles on the field. He has a good understanding of the game and therefore is a backbone of the team.

#23 A. Iezzi

#7 D. Hardegger

#11 E. Marinello

Hungary

Hungary hasn´t participated in the WFC qualifications in 2016 so it is the time to make a great comeback. The team is a mixture of young talents and more experienced players with high ambitions. The goal is to make it to the WFC as one of the best 3rd placed teams which will be difficult but doesn´t seem impossible.

Players to watch

Péter Pfneiszli: Having played in Denmark for more than a year, made him faster and also a more complex player. He is definitely a player who can decide games with his moves.
Szilárd Harangozó: His goal scoring abilities are excellent so, it wasn´t a surprise that he was the highest scoring player at the Hungarian championships last year with 90 points.
János Müller: Together with Szilárd Harangozó they ruled the highest scoring chart last year so it is not a surprise that he earned his part in the national team.

#10 P. Pfneiszli

#S. Harangozo

#7 J. Müller

Iceland

Team Iceland is participating for the second time in WFC. The team consists of established players playing in Scandinavia and less experienced, but equally enthusiastic, players in Iceland. We hope to build on the experience gained in the last WFC and to do our very best to qualify for the finals – and to have fun while doing so.

Players to watch

Andreas Stefansson: a.k.a. Mr. Island! A top scorer with great speed and directness.
Tryggvi Stefansson: a.k.a. Mr. Snowball! A great goalie catlike reflexes and agility. He is also surprisingly skilled with the stick.
Magnus Marteinsson: The Veteran! All around player with great vision, positioning and passing ability.