Patrick Fischer takes his players to task

"I'm sorry for the players, we're fighting and doing it," Fischer told the Keystone-SDA news agency after the second defeat following the 4-1 loss to Sweden on Thursday. "Of course the Czechs are a strong opponent, but we have chances, the puck just isn't going in the net at the moment. We're not creating enough traffic where it's needed, we're not taking away the goalie's vision enough. It's just tedious, because there were two good performances."

Fischer then becomes even clearer: "For me, scoring goals is a mental thing, having the will to make the difference in every shift. We have to learn that. How? By everyone working on themselves, acquiring an even better technique and then taking responsibility with confidence." He was also annoyed by the two goals conceded from the slot, as he had discussed this strength of the Czechs.

Fischer had words of praise for the line with Denis Malgin, Fabrice Herzog and Sven Andrighetto. "They played an incredible game, created almost all the chances." For Andrighetto, the good performance of his forward line was "little consolation. Our job is to stand firm at the back and score goals. We didn't do that today."

What makes it so difficult against the Czechs, Sven Andrighetto? "They're a big and tough team that plays disciplined and protects the slot well." As for the home curse - Switzerland has lost all ten games in front of a home crowd in the Euro Hockey Tour - he says: "I wasn't aware of that." However, a reaction is needed on Sunday at 3.30 pm against Finland.