WFC 2017 Team presentations - Group A: FIN, CZE, LAT, NOR – 21.11.2017

The 11th Women´s World Floorball Championships (WFC) Final Round is played in Bratislava, Slovakia on December 1st - 9th, 2017.

A total of 30 teams played in the WFC Qualifications to decide the 16 teams to qualify to the Event. Slovakia, as the organiser, is automatically qualified. The WFC is played with 16 teams: FIN, CZE, LAT, NOR, SWE, SUI, GER, POL, SVK, AUS, SGP, EST, DEN, JPN, USA, THA.

Thailand will play in the World Floorball Championships Final Round for the first time.

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 Women´s World Floorball Championships 2017 groups will be presented on the IFF website and the first up is Group A with Finland, Czech Republic, Latvia and Norway.

 

FINLAND

Team Finland is a mixture of experienced players and young talents. There are players who have played several WFC´s, including the bitter WFC2015 final loss, and then new energetic players entering their first adult WFC. After three consecutive silver medals, the team is very hungry for success and of course aiming for the gold medals.

Players to watch

Veera Kauppi: Veera is very skilful and intelligent player on the field. Young forward can amaze the spectators with incredible dribbling or truly accurate shot.
Ella Alanko: Ella is the motor of the game when she is on the field. Her quick legs give her the opportunity to challenge any player. She is very skilful, but also always battles with great attitude.
My Kippilä: My is the leading defender, who has the ability to open the game with in accurate passes. Her penalty shot tricks are legendary, the goalkeeper never knows what to expect.

 
#63 V. Kauppi		  
#22 E. Alanko
  
#80 M. Kippilä


CZECH REPUBLIC

As a youngest from the top World teams (average age 23 years) they want to achieve the main goal - get through the quarterfinals. They are going to deal with very good opponents in a group stage and be ready, especially, for quarterfinals. For the Czech team, this is the peak in four years hard work finished on the World Championships few kilometres from the Czech borders.

Players to watch

Eliska Krupnova: Pixbo player grew up to be the main pillar of the Czech team. Thanks to her drive and enthusiasm we believe that she will become the leader of the team.
Denisa Ratajova: Her talent is shaped in the Finnish league. Together with Eliska Krupnova she should be the most potent player with good work in defense.
Jana Christianova: After a four year break, she is back in the Czech goal. Ready to be their number one in defense line.

 
#5 E. Krupnova
  
#24 D. Ratajova
  
#37 J. Christianova

 

LATVIA

The Latvian team is in the state of generation change and all players are ready to prove themselves in the new model. Main goal is to play as best as they can and fight their way to the top 4.

Players to watch

Gunita Karklina: Long-time captain of the team, valuable player with experience from the foreign leagues.
Laura Gaugere: Young and perspective power forward, one of the leaders of the U19 National team.
Zeltite Bankava: Universal player with a lot of international tournaments under her belt and also experienced as a coach.

 
#13 G. Karklina
  
#55 L. Gaugere
#5 Z. Bankava


NORWAY

Aim of the Norwegian team is to develop as a team both on and off the court.

Players to watch

Tone Einstulen: Tone is a great two way player and plays in the Swedish top league (SSL).
Karen Farnes: Karen is the team captain and Go Girls Ambassador. She also plays in the SSL.
Thea Ekholt: Thea is the goalie, playing her first year in the SSL.

 
#7 T. Einstulen
  
#6 K. Farnes
  
#35 T. Ekholt
 

All information has been provided by the teams themselves and only edited by IFF.