Alexander Zhurik: “We are missing for the whole game”

Defender of the national team of Belarus Alexander Zhurik in an interview with Sport Today told what the team lacked to defeat Canadians. And he explained how to play with this opponent.

“But they could have caused a sensation, Alexander.”

- They could. Well, today we are not ready to fight the Canadians on equal terms. Not enough for the whole game.

- Did you have any special plan for the match?

- Yes. Go out and play.

- A poor plan.

- We had to try to use the moments in the majority. And we…

- And you?

“And we made stupid mistakes in the middle zone.” This, incidentally, brings us not the first match.

- Very worried?

- Not.

- What about?

“I don't want to talk about this.”

- Why do not you want something? Is there any disagreement?

- Of course there is. As with all teams.

- And in what mood will you finish the championship? You can already not strain.

- On the contrary. Now, when the chances for the quarter finals are almost gone, we will try to slam the door. What our team cannot be blamed for is the absence of a fighting character.

- That's for sure. In the first period, you managed to get Canadians out of yourself.

- Do you think they played rough? But this is not so. We just acted very competently, substituted. And they were moving away. I would call it stupid deletions.

- You could not play like that for two more periods?

- And this is the class of teams. Someone can change their game, and someone not. We are not yet.

“Is Fraser to blame?”

- It’s not the player’s business to criticize the coach.

- But last year you went to the playoffs.

- But we had a different composition. Now there are not a few leading hockey players. Someone could not leave America, someone is injured. The main losses in the attack line. Therefore, we score very little.

- In general, in your opinion, can the Belarusian team play stably at last year’s level? Are there reserves, say, among players?

- In our country, hockey is given a lot of attention. So there will be no problems with replenishment.

- You are invited to the team constantly. Is this not your last World Cup last?

“No, I want to play some more.”

- But Andrey Skabelka has already become a coach.

- Glad for him. I would not mind such a career development, but so far they haven’t invited anywhere.

Alexey Shevchenko


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