First five
Proshkin - Nikulin, Morozov - Zinoviev - Zaripov
It all started with them. Two shifts - two goals. They took the Danes warm. Further it was already possible to swagger, to play for pleasure. And our team always did it - the Danes were eventually torn to pieces. For this match, it was simply evident that the Kazan five stand out for their teamwork. Minimum individual passages and rejects in gears. As often happens with this link, it is impossible to single out the best. Each went about his own business and managed to help his neighbor. Because, in fact, they are in the composition.
Second five
Markov - Potter, Frolov - Malkin - Kovalchuk
This link seems to be regarded by Bykov as the first majority brigade. Meanwhile, they played together for the first time. And by and large, they only dealt with that they felt for interaction. It was especially curious to look at Kovalchuk, who seemed to have changed for the better, becoming almost a team player.
This match did not confirm this postulate. Although not to be denied.
Ilya periodically overdid the puck. Seriously to work out in the defense of the opportunity was not presented. I tried to play the pass for moments, sometimes it even worked out. For example, it was he who launched the attack, when the Danes defender Berdker closed the final transfer of Malkin. And in the second period he chalked up the majority pass. True, in this episode Kovalchuk’s merit should not be overestimated. Before passing the pass back to Frolov, he clearly lost sight of Markov, who had come running to the far post. And only the connivance of the Danish defenders allowed our defender to wait for the transfer there - already from Frolov.
Ilya also noted a company sawn-off shotgun in most. Fortunately, it turned out not to be too spectacular and ultimately safe. So for now, it is Kovalchuk who looks like the weakest link in this five. Let's hope so far.
Third five
Atyushov - Grebeshkov, Radulov - Happy - Kharitonov
This link can be forgiven for the goal scored by Peter Happy. An amazing pass from Vitaly Atyushov from his goal under a strange blue line brought the captain of our team one on one with the goalkeeper. It would be simply criminal to ruin such a transfer. Happy did not fail. On the whole, the link played, perhaps not discreetly, but quite reliably. She did not allow herself to flirt, and the Danes, respectively, were hooligans at the gates of Koshechkin. And there are reserves for progress - the same Radulov so far is only eyeing his partners.
Fourth five
Emelin - Kondratiev, Kulemin - Nepryaev - Ovechkin
They started the worst. Ovechkin and Kulemin periodically got stuck in the opponent's zone, and Emelin seemed to be shaking slightly. Hence several dangerous moments at the gates of Koshechkin in the first period and a goal conceded. By the second period, when the result was already achieved, they began to play calmer. They began to play pass more often and more accurately and, as a result, scored two goals.
Goalkeeper
Vasily Koshechkin
There is no fault in the conceded goal, but you can even say “help out” about a couple of episodes. But, of course, he did not bother. And even preliminary conclusions about Koshechkin’s readiness for the level of the World Cup cannot yet be made. Not scary - such an opportunity still presents itself.
Summary
It seems that the Ukrainian team has good chances to maintain a place in the elite division. The Danes looked too weak in the first match. A hail of abandoned washers is, of course, nice. But such victories are relaxing. And this would be the least desirable.