On 14 December, the General Assembly of the International Floorball Federation (IFF) took place during the ongoing Men's World Championship in Malmö, Sweden. The most important item on the agenda was the election of the new leadership of the world federation. Filip Šuman, former head of Czech Floorball, became the president. He succeeded the Swede Tomas Eriksson, who had led the IFF since 1996. Šuman's victory was not matched by the national team, which after a sovereign passage through the group eliminated Slovakia in the quarter-finals but fell short to home Sweden in the semi-finals. Today, the Czechs shook off the Latvians' resistance and leave the World Championship with a medal for the third time in a row.
In the group the Czechs defeated Norway 7:2 (0:4, 1:2, 1:1), after a fantastic third period Switzerland 5:2 (1:0, 0:1, 4:1), eventually dismantled Germany 9:0 (5:0, 2:0, 2:0)and won the group without a single defeat for the first time in history!
The Czech team fulfilled the role of favourite and in the quarterfinals and beat the Slovaks 9:1 (6:0, 1:0, 2:1). By qualifying as one of the top four teams of the championship, they also secured their qualification for the 2025 World Games in China.
In the semi-finals against Jaroslav Berka's charges stood home Sweden. The latter took advantage of the support of more than eight thousand spectators and after winning 6:1 (0:2, 0:1, 1:3) they slipped into the final.
In the last match for the bronze medal, the Czech team played against a surprise from the Baltic States. The Latvians are having the best World Championship ever. For the first time they made it to the top four, thanks to a quarter-final triumph over the Swiss, decided in overtime by Rolands Kovalevskis. The team has some interesting names in its squad. Former Swedish junior player Pontus Zarins is showing his class. The goalkeeper of Sweden's FBC Kalmarsund took advantage of his dual citizenship and became a building block of the Latvians' success. Markuss Dumpis, who has been playing in the Finnish F-League, is showing great performances, while Morics Krumins, who helped Warberg return to the Swedish SSL in the spring, adds experience and points to the defensive line.
Czech national team broke the opponent's resistance at the end of the second part and won 8:2 (2:1, 3:1, 3:0). It is the third medal in a row for the national team and the sixth overall. For the fourth time the Czechs won the third place at the World Championship. The game was highlighted by a record-breaking entry by legend Matej Jendrišak.
The match kicked off with a ceremony in which Received by Matěj Jendrišák received a plaque for breaking the record Eliska Krupnova in the absolute number of starts for the adult national team. The bronze medal was match number 142 for him.
The national team had an excellent start to the match. After just 26 seconds, he pulled up at the halfway line. Marek Benes and Latvian goalkeeper Zarins didn't see his shot over the screening Krumins.
After half of the first period, the Czechs capitalized on their territorial advantage when Forman's bid from the right side of the crease ended up in the open cage. Mikulas Krbec.
The Czechs complicated the situation with two exclusions at the end. The first one was punished before the break after Ragovskis' challenge from the back line Joren Malkav...that bounced off the guards and hit the open cage.
At the start of the second period, the Latvians got into some great positions thanks to a power play, but Bauer literally shined. On the other side, Zarins had to make a few great saves.
The third period, which was dominated mainly by the defence, was finally broken by Ondřej Němečekwho, after Havlas' ball was dragged into the attacking half, fired from the left side of the net into the opposite goal to make it 3:1.
The Czechs didn't enjoy the calmer lead for long, taking advantage of a defensive lapse by Akmenlauks, who in a two-on-one breakaway picked off a pass into an empty Bruno Bekeriswho did not refuse the offer.
But the Czech team struck twice more before the break and Filip Langer was there each time. First, his shot was blocked by the Latvian defense just in front of Mark Beneswho hung up a second time at point-blank range.
Soon after, a foul was called on the center of the first line, who finished into the empty net. The penalty shot came, which was handled well by Josef Rýpar, who pulled Zarins, overthrew him and the Czechs led by three.
He added another calm to Czech floorball in 43. Minute Jiří Bestawho, after Meliš's cross, went around the goal and finished his great run with a precise shot to the back post.
The concentrated performance of the Czechs did not allow the Latvians to return to the game. In the middle of the period, the national team got a power play and after Langer's cross pass, he scored with a shot to the opposite corner to make it 7:2. Ondřej Němeček.
His first hit at the tournament came after a pass from Jendrišak Milan Melišwho sent a great shot under the top bar.
Goals: 1. M. Benes (Havlas), 11. Krbec (Forman), 36. Němeček (Havlas), 38. M. Benes (Langer), 39. Rýpar (T), 43. Besta (Meliš), 50. Němeček (Langer), 54. Meliš (Jendrišák) - 18. Malkavs (Ragovskis), 36. Bekeris (Akmenlauks). Judge: Broman - Matti (SWE). Penalties: 2:2. 1:1. Attendance: 6241. Bauer 9 - Zarins 21, Silins 2. | MATCH CENTER | CT Sport
The line-up of the Czech Republic: Bauer (Jurco) - Němeček, Hemerka, Suchánek, Punčochář, Meliš, Zakonov - Havlas, Langer, M. Beneš - Rýpar, Forman, Krbec - Besta, Jendrišák, Hanák - D. Beneš, Delong, Tokoš.
History of the world championship standings:
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | 4th place |
| 2024 | Finland | Sweden | CZECH | Latvia |
| 2022 | Sweden | CZECH | Finland | Switzerland |
| 2021 | Sweden | Finland | CZECH | Switzerland |
| 2018 | Finland | Sweden | Switzerland | CZECH |
| 2016 | Finland | Sweden | Switzerland | CZECH |
| 2014 | Sweden | Finland | CZECH | Switzerland |
| 2012 | Sweden | Finland | Switzerland | Germany |
| 2010 | Finland | Sweden | CZECH | Switzerland |
| 2008 | Finland | Sweden | Switzerland | CZECH |
| 2006 | Sweden | Finland | Switzerland | CZECH |
| 2004 | Sweden | CZECH | Finland | Switzerland |
| 2002 | Sweden | Finland | Switzerland | CZECH |
| 2000 | Sweden | Finland | Switzerland | Denmark |
| 1998 | Sweden | Switzerland | Finland | Denmark |
| 1996 | Sweden | Finland | Norway | CZECH |
Filip Šuman, who headed Czech Floorball between 2000 and 2021, was elected to the post of head of world floorball. Šuman won the support of all the strong federations, and thanks to that he was the only candidate for the post of the top man in world floorball. Šuman thus became the first Czech in history to occupy the post of president of a world sports federation that belongs to the International Olympic Committee.
"Becoming president of world floorball is a huge opportunity and challenge. I really appreciate the support of floorball federations from all continents. Floorball has been with me all my life and I am determined to continue to devote all my energy to make it grow and become an even more important sport in the world." commented on his choice Šuman, who until now has served as vice-president of the IFF.
The General Assembly also elected the entire 13-member IFF Executive Committee. There have been a number of changes in the leadership of world floorball and a large part of the Executive Committee is made up of new members. According to the IFF Statutes, only one representative per country can stand for election. However, this rule does not apply to the post of President and therefore Czech Floorball could have one more candidate for the Executive Committee. Zuzana Svobodová, the current Director of the Sports Department of Czech Floorball, was elected for the Czech Republic and Tomáš Březina defended his position on the IFF Disciplinary Commission.
"The fact that Filip has become the president of the IFF means a great commitment not only for him personally, but also for us as the whole Czech floorball. In the long term, we are positioning ourselves as one of the leaders of international development and especially in this respect we want to be a great support for the new president. It is also in our interest to make the IFF a really strong and developed federation, and at the same time to prove that we can really be that proclaimed leader." says the President of Czech Floorball Daniel Novák.
"The election of Filip Šuman to the role of President of the International Floorball Federation is a very prestigious matter not only for floorball, but for the entire Czech sport. It proves that as Czechs we are able to educate not only successful players, but also strong leaders who are not afraid to speak up in the highest structures, which gives a very good name not only to the domestic sport, but also to the whole Czech Republic. It is also a clear proof of the strength of Czech floorball and its position on the international stage," pleases the Chairman of the National Sports Agency Ondřej Šebek.
At the World Floorball Congress, besides the election of the leadership, major changes in the structure of floorball events were also discussed. From 2030 onwards, the men's and women's World Championships should be held once every four years, interspersed with the continental championships. Other team sports have long been working with the same model. "Floorball is growing and new members are being added not only in Europe and Asia, but also in America and quite rapidly in Africa, where there are already 13 member countries. I think the way of continental championships can be important for the development of floorball worldwide. The European Championships can very quickly become an extremely prestigious tournament," Novák described the discussion at the General Assembly.
Czech floorball/ gnews - Roz
PHOTO - CT sport, X Czech Floorball
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