Ylva Martinsen has held back my tears during the whole interview, but now burning behind the eyelids.
She was standing a few metres away from the world CUP-the ice in the Finnish Espoo. It has been a quarter of an hour ago Damkronornas last match against Japan was over.
the Disappointment is heavy to carry.
the previous storspelaren Martinsens first world tournament as head coach.
It ended in the worst possible way.
“I am ultimately responsible for this, and there is nothing that I take lightly,” says Ylva Martinsen.
On the question of whether she is worried that this was both her first and last championships as the head coach, she answers:
” It is clear that the players need to have confidence in my leadership and what I have begun to try to build, and the league is my employer and the people who decide.
” But I would never fold me down.
Coach Ylva Martinsen in the booth during the game. Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/TT
disappear , which applied for the articles with in the final group match against Japan, and in the stands at the world CUP stadium in the Finnish Espoo sat nervous English fans.
In the event of loss would Sweden have for the first time in history moved down to the B CUP.
the Pressure on the English players was of the obvious reasons, great, but Sweden began Tuesday’s match really good.
when the captain of the team, Emma Nordin already in the third minute gave Sweden the lead with 1-0. The goal came after a perfect pass from veteran Pernilla Winberg.
The first period belonged to the whole of Sweden, but with only a few seconds left in the first period was Erika Grahm sent off. Japan thus had the chance to start the second period in the game in numerical superiority.
Sweden goalie Sara Grahn managed to stay tight despite the less good penalty killing-games.
period was the English game as a whole is not in the same class as the game in the first period.
Sweden had a hard time getting pressure in the anfallszon, and his passing game was sloppy.
instead, it was Japan that made and scored the next goal when Haruna Yoneyama scored to 1-1 with four minutes remaining of the second period.
In the third end of the seventh minute, they got the Swedish fans in the stands to cheer for the second time when the slope Sofia Engström got in the way of a shot from the edge, while Erika Grahm did a great job in front of goal, and the puck went directly in the goal.
once again, Sweden was in the lead, but penalties ruined the day.
throughout the world CUP, Sweden has found it difficult to get to their game in outnumbered, and the problems continued in the match against Japan.
when Japan equalized to 2-2 with just under nine minutes left of normal time then Ayaka Tokos shot changed direction and went through Akane Shiga into the goal.
The unfortunate rebound put Sara Grahn in goal.
With just over two minutes left of normal time, it was Erika Grahms lucky to end up in utvisningsbåset, and once again it was Ayaka Toko shot. This time went the puck directly into the goal.
was a fact, good advice was expensive. Sweden picked out the goalie with less than a minute left, but failed, not got into a kvitteringspuck.
Japan won 3-2.
“We have skilled players, but it creeps into a anxiety and a fear of failure,” says Ylva Martinsen.
the Loss means to play Sweden in the B-world CHAMPIONSHIPS next year, and with lowered heads they were Swedish players at the blue line after the game and thanked him for the match.
Long moments we played pretty well against Japan, but it is the small things that we do not fully, ” says Ylva Martinsen.
– As a whole, we have during the tournament, found it difficult to find a balance between creating offensively, and putting the defensive, she continues.
is on the way out on the ice for the next match.
Ylva Martinsen leaving the mixed zone and go back to the locker room.
– Now the journey back begin.
the Question is whether it will be with or without Ylva Martinsen.
Read more: Swedish captain of the team: ”Crazy great disappointment.”
