Latvia, the next big country?

[WarriorofTime]

Finnish football-fans are often so-called manwhores meaning that they cheer for some foreign team such as Liverpool, Barcelona etc. They even talk about their favourite foreign teams like "we won our last match, we are doing well" etc.

The Finnish domestic league is ridiculed by most people. It just is of so poor standard.

The Finnish domestic league is one of the weakest in Europe, as its coefficient rank is 44/55 (well technically, 43, 44 and 45 are all identical) amongst European Associations. It is not surprising most people would follow teams in other countries closer than the local teams.

 

[member 305909]

That's true. The Finnish league is rubbish but it is still the Finnish league.

Watching closely international top leagues is one thing but identifying as a supporter of a foreign club is another.

It's a worldwide phenomenon though. The big clubs have fan-clubs all over the world. Especially ib China.

 

[Eye of Ra]

The Finnish domestic league is one of the weakest in Europe, as its coefficient rank is 44/55 (well technically, 43, 44 and 45 are all identical) amongst European Associations. It is not surprising most people would follow teams in other countries closer than the local teams.

well swedish league is very weak too, still swedes love our league and is very passionate about it

 

[Tuoppi]

Say what? Northern Estonia is a top dog and Southern Estonia just made us very proud as well.

We perhaps will have to start a "Special (Hockey) Operation" to incorporate these two neighbours properly into Central Estonia

Already in 2007 -that famous speech in Munich - it was said that it's intolerable that some northern and southern regions are better at hockey than Central Estonia and that will have consequences!!!

We call Tallinn southern Helsinki.

 

[Jakub97]

Latvia definitely achieved something unbelievable. Congratulations. Bronze that feels like gold!

I really wish we will see countries like Germany, Switzerland, Latvia, us (Slovakia) and other 2/3 tiers to compete in semifinals. USA is still missing something to get to the final and this year they have been really close. Perhaps right time for USA and Sweden team to ask themselves
what's wrong and why do we keep struggling against much hockey-wise smaller nations since we have over 200 NHL players (USA) and over 80 NHL players (Sweden). Time to bounce back for those nations in Czechia. Anyway back to Latvia - future hockey superpower? Likely not. TOP 10 lock? Possible. Recent results from U18, U20 and senior tournament show some promising steps forward which is great.

The domestic league needs to rise in all directions in my humble opinion. Attendance,quality and as a marketing product. Hockey isn't played only in May. Cities like Liepaja, Daugavpils, Jurmala need to have one strong local senior team to bring awareness of game around. So far it feels like club hockey is played only in Riga and Jelgava (right now the most competitive team in whole Latvia). Liepaja will bounce back I believe since there as a hockey culture and decent arena.

Perhaps time to bring 2-3 teams from Estonia and create stronger Baltic league with 10 - 12 combined by 3 baltic nations? This time It can work and I am cheering for it.

Still this does not have any major affect on results of senior national team as It has been mentioned previously and I do agree although this may be the way how to bring more people into hockey and can ultimately bring more kids to play hockey.

Just an example our local HC Kosice won the top league tittle and the fuzz in city was HUGE.
Quite likeable there will higher interest of hockey in town when it comes to new kids wanting to play.

 

[Lartsaman]

Even in this thread people find ways to mock Finland. Its about Latvia and Finland being shit at football have not much to do with that.