The 11th Men´s World Floorball Championships (WFC) Final Round is played in Riga, Latvia on December 3rd - 11th 2016.
A total of 34 teams played in the WFC Qualifications to decide the 15 teams to qualify to the Event. Latvia, as the organiser, is automatically qualified. The WFC is played with 16 teams.
The two best teams of group A and B go directly to the quarter-final. Teams placed 3rd and 4th in group A and B and the teams placed 1st and 2nd in group C and D make it to the first playoff round (played before the quarter-finals).
More information on the tournament format can be found here: http://iffwfc.org/pages/EN/Tournament
All four Men´s World Floorball Championships 2016 groups will been presented on the IFF website and the last, but not least, is the Group A with Finland, Switzerland, Germany and Estonia.
Finland is currently World Ranking number two and target is to be number one in the 11th World Championships in Latvia. At the qualification tournament in Estonia, the only goal was to win over every single game and that happened. Team Finland will have the best available roster in Riga which is highly focused, motivated and ready to win the trophy.
Players to watch:
Tatu Väänänen: Team captain. Great skills for floorball and amazing high winning attitude. Fast with the ball, good moves and shot.
Jani Kukkola: One of the best centers in the world with extremely high winning attitude. Fast with the ball, good moves and shot.
Nico Salo: Next generation star. Compact player with good sense of playing. Makes no mistakes and knows how to rule the ball and game.
#21 T. Väänänen |
#22 J. Kukkola |
#20 N. Salo |
A dynamic team with lots of energy. Team Switzerland is trying to puzzle together new energy with lots of experience. They always aim to win every game, but also know that they cannot control how the opponents do. Their goal is therefor to get the best out of each individual and as a team. If they do, they will be an excellent team.
Players to watch:
Matthias Hofbauer: Already on the WFC court in Norway 2000, Matthias is still a strong floorball force. Great playmaker with a splendid vision.
Manuel Maurer: A natural goal scorer, with good defensive skills. Brings a lot to his line and his team.
Florian Kuchen: A tough defender with lots of energy. Very important part of the team. A leader on and off the court.
#19 M. Hofbauer |
#11 M. Maurer |
#96 F. Kuchen |
German team is young and talented, with good potential for the next years. Their aim is to get to the Quarter-finals.
Players to watch:
Benjamin Borth: Benjamin is the captain and the leader of the team.
Maximillian Falkenberger: Maximillian has great physical strength and he is the Cop on the field.
Jan Niklas Buckermann: Jan Niklas is young and a special player in the team.
#9 B. Borth |
#18 M. Falkenberger |
#25 J.N. Buckermann |
The main goal for the Estonian team is to play great matches in their group and to get enough points for the best possible placement in the Quarter-finals. Their second goal is to be among the eight best teams, where they could give their best in order to reach their third goal: to play for the fifth place.
Players to watch:
Marek Oige: Very experienced goalkeeper who plays in Finnish league.
Tanel Kasenurm: A young sniper who plays in the Swiss NLB league.
Patrik Markus: Perpetual motion. Very fast runner who gives his all for the team. Sets an example as a player with his thirst for victory and will to fight till the end. Stable player who makes important passes and goals at decisive moments.
#90 M. Oige |
#87 T. Kasenurm |
#21 P. Markus |
Finland to play-offs with three wins – 5.12.2016
Canada breaks Thailand´s heart in a push for play off position – 5.12.2016
Slovakia beats Australia and reaches play-offs – 5.12.2016
Denmark wins a dramatic game against Poland – 5.12.2016
Thailand won their first WFC Final Round game – 4.12.2016
Czech Republic defeats hosts – 4.12.2016
USA beats Canada in North American derby – 4.12.2016
Finland continues with hard win against Switzerland – 4.12.2016
Slovakia beats Poland in dramatic showdown – 4.12.2016
Germany and Estonia tied – 4.12.2016
Sweden upsets Latvia in front of a record crowd – 3.12.2016
New WFC Records – 3.12.2016
Canada defeats Singapore – 3.12.2016
Czech´s offense driven squad beats Norway – 3.12.2016
Denmark starts early and gets easy win – 3.12.2016
Finland outplays Germany for their first victory – 3.12.2016
USA starts with victory against Thailand – 3.12.2016
Switzerland tops Estonia in the first game of World Championships – 3.12.2016
IFF President Foreword WFC 2016 – 2.12.2016
WFC 2016 Referee presentation – 1.12.2016