National coach Jan Cadieux does not attach too much importance to the 6:1 win against the Czech Republic in the last preparatory game for the home World Cup. The successful comeback of Sven Andrighetto deserves special mention.
10.05.2026, 23:00
11.05.2026, 08:43
SDA
Although the Swiss were without NHL stars Roman Josi, Nico Hischier, Timo Meier and Nino Niederreiter, they put in an impressive performance against the Czechs. "There's enough maturity in this group, we all know it's just a preparation game," said Jan Cadieux, taking a pragmatic view of the successful World Championship skin test. He classified the performance as a "character victory". "We wanted to play with this intensity for 60 minutes and be hungrier in front of goal. You could see that the team was ready from the first shift."
Still a lot to play for
The Swiss want to build on this at the home World Cup. Before then, however, Cadieux and his staff still have some difficult decisions to make. With Janis Moser joining the team from the Tampa Bay Lightning, three defensemen will have to make way. As for the forwards, it remains to be seen whether Philipp Kurashev is fit enough. Depending on that, two or three forwards will be cut. Cadieux is happy that the players are making it difficult for him. "It shows that we've picked the right ones so far. I didn't sleep much last night, we had a long meeting about who we wanted to see today."
On the announcement of the final World Cup squad, Cadieux says: "A lot is still open. It's quite possible that we'll wait until Wednesday - also for health reasons with some players." "Two or three positions" still need to be discussed. One question facing those responsible is who can accept the role of 13th and 14th striker. If possible, he would like to tell those who can't make it personally. "That's the greatest form of respect. Some have been with us for four weeks, they deserve that," says Cadieux.
Andrighetto impressed
One player who doesn't have to worry about his place is Sven Andrighetto. The ZSC Lions forward made his comeback against the Czechs after suffering a concussion on March 25 - and did so in impressive fashion. He contributed one goal and one assist to the victory. "I still need to find my rhythm a bit, but I felt good physically," said Andrighetto. "If playing had been critical, I wouldn't have played. I was ready all week, but we wanted to play it 100 percent safe."
During the playoffs, Andrighetto was said to be close to a comeback. So was it an up and down game? "I don't know who told me that, but I wasn't close at all in the playoffs." Even when he joined the national team in the second of four weeks of preparation in Biel, he didn't train with the team at first. "From then on, things went uphill."
Cadieux told Andrighetto, not entirely seriously: "I waited as long as possible. But if I had told him that he wouldn't be able to play today either, then I wouldn't be here - then we would have had a bit of a struggle. I'm very happy for him."
What is the focus now until the first World Cup match against the USA next Friday? "We have a few ideas about which pairs we want in the various forward lines - now it's about finding the right third player so that the chemistry is right." First, however, the team will enjoy two days off after the return flight on Sunday evening.
