Neuchâtel, Switzerland, December 11, 2019 – With the group phase now over, Day Five of the 2019 Women’s Floorball World Championship will see eight teams battle it out in the playoffs to join top four seeds Sweden, Finland, Switzerland and the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, fans of the teams unlucky not to get through from Groups C and D still have plenty to enjoy as their teams cross swords in the first of the classification matches.

But what are the main events that Floorball fans can expect on playoff day?

Group A strugglers face Group D high-flyers

It has been a difficult campaign for Germany in Neuchâtel so far. The World Number Eight outfit have failed to win in all three of their group matches, losing all three games, conceding 33 goals and scoring just two in the process. That said, they have faced potent opposition in the shape of Switzerland and Finland, as well as the Poles.

Anna Lena Best, billed as one of Germany’s stars, is yet to score at this year’s competition, but has registered both assists for the two German goals scored so far; converted by Winona Jurgens and Laura Honicke. Defensively, there is much to improve on, but the German side need their attack to find its form.

Facing Singapore, the 15th ranked side in the world, they may find more joy. However, the southeast Asian side have hit their stride in Group D with three wins from three, topping the group after scoring 14 goals and conceding six.

Duo Jerelee and Tiffany Ong have been instrumental for the Singaporeans on their World Championship journey so far, whilst Amanda Yeap and Yun Shawn Yee have also been on form. Michelle Lok proved her worth to the side as the standout performer against Australia last time out, so there is plenty in their armoury to suggest that they can hurt a Germany team low on confidence.

Will Germany recover or can Singapore continue to shock the world and make the quarter-finals? This playoff is finely poised and offers fans plenty to look forward to.

Promising Danish side face big Slovak test

Denmark go into this playoff against World Number Six Slovakia as underdogs, but with a superior record in the groups. Denmark took two wins from three games to get to this stage, scoring 17 and conceding eight. The Slovaks lost twice in Group B, winning once and shipping 47 goals, scoring just 11: the worst goal difference across the whole group phase.

Mathilde Christensen has been one of Denmark’s biggest threats thus far, while Jasmin Damm, Maria Olausson, Cecilia Di Nardo, Klara Fjorder and Lina Voldby have all been amongst the goals too. At their best, they have the potential to cause trouble for the leakiest defence at Neuchâtel up to now.

Slovakian fans can rely on their own duo of potent attackers, sibling duo Kristina and Paulina Hudáková. Kristina Belicova and Michaela Sponiarova have also been among the standouts, and facing lesser opposition than they’ve been accustomed to in Group B, there is the potential for them to produce on the big occasion.

For certain, this matchup is sure to be competitive.

Inconsistent but strong Poland take on underdogs from Down Under

Poland’s group phase record of one win and two defeats doesn’t make for awful reading, considering that the defeats came against Switzerland and Finland, but they have one of the poorest scoring records in the competition, scoring just seven, having conceded 26.

Polish fans will be craving for that to change, and a match against Group D opposition may well provide an opportunity. However, forwards Justyna and Zuzanna Krzywak will have to produce more in front of goal, as will fellow dangerwoman Dominika Buczek.

Yet, Australia’s success in Group D suggests they won’t be a pushover and could make for an entertaining encounter. Scoring 12 goals in the groups and conceding nine, the Aussies picked up two wins from their three, buoyed by positive displays from leading sniper Blaise Hodges, and the creativity of Jessica Birks and Yasmin Skene. Fans from Down Under will be hoping that their golden triangle can spring a surprise against top ten opposition.

Perfect Norway aim to preserve record against fifth seeds

Norway’s World Championship campaign has been a real highlight to date. The Scandinavians take a 100% group record into the playoffs, winning three games in three and scoring 14 goals, while conceding only nine.

Their success is owed not just to a hardworking team ethic but also a strong creative core. Rikke Ingebrigtsli Hansen has been an irresistible performer so far, while Mari and Sofie Kristiansen and Heidi Rod have been positive performers. The Norwegians also build from the back, with defenders chipping in with vital contributions and goals, such as Sandra Craig, Eline Dagestad and Anette Marie Berg.

Should these players deliver, then the Scandinavians have every chance of progressing. They will need to get through their biggest test so far against World Number Five, Latvia, who despite failing to win in the group do carry a huge threat.

Simona Grapena has begun to find her form and Laura Gargere has also chipped in on the goal front. Anna Ankudinova hasn’t had much success in front of goal over the last match, but the playoff would be a very good time to rediscover her eye for goal. Winless Latvia may be, but they have plenty of aces up their sleeves and will be more than a match for their opponents.
This is a playoff tie with a licence to thrill.

Two exciting classification clashes

The four teams unfortunate not to make the playoff still have placements to play for in the classification matches.

Thailand, who picked up one win in the groups, will face Japan in an Asian derby, an occasion which their most consistent performer Thanaporn Tongkham will be relishing. Japan are Asia’s best ranked side, however, and have their own deadly duo in Yui Goto and Mahiro Shimizu as well as a capable goalkeeper in Miko Yamanaka. Will familiar opposition in their sights, Japan will fancy their chances of a first win in Neuchâtel, but in a derby anything can happen.

Elsewhere, the winless USA take on Estonia, who only lost out on a playoff spot in their final Group C tie with a defeat to the Danes. The Americans have an array of capable goalscorers ready to entertain again; Victoria Lindstrom, Marie Haggstrom and Christine Lindberg have all found the net so far, while youngsters Selma Johansson, Vera Niskanen and Saskia Gerecke have all made telling contributions.

Estonia’s attack was a proven force in Group C, and they and their fans will be looking ahead to a very winnable looking game. Edith Parnik, Kristi Rickberg and the craft of Kati Kutisaar will be the biggest weapons the Americans will face, and they are sure to have a torrid time attempting to withstand them. Reti Vaart and Diana Klavan are two more fierce prongs in an already terrifying front line. With firepower pitted against firepower, this could break away from the norm for these two sides and make for a high scoring game.

Match schedule 11.12.19

Patinoires du Littoral:
10:00 am- Thailand vs Japan (Classification 13th-16th M1)
1:00 pm- Germany vs Singapore (Playoff)
4:00 pm- Slovakia vs Denmark (Playoff)
7:00 pm- Poland vs Australia (Playoff)

La Riveraine:
12:00 pm- Latvia vs Norway (Playoff)
3:00 pm- Estonia vs USA (Classification 13th-16th M2)