MOSCOW, May 16 (RIA Novosti sports commentator Mikhail Smirnov) - It has taken Russia's national hockey squad twelve years to win the whole set of world championship medals. They took home gold in 1993, silver in 2002, and bronze in 2005. So, what's next?
Russia's showing at this year's world championships makes it hard to make any predictions as to how they will perform next season. There were both up sides and down sides to their playing in Vienna's Stadthalle stadium, but with the lessons learnt, they will perhaps be able to put their best foot forward in future international fixtures.
When seeing the team off to Austria, few of their fans believed they would bring home bronze. Russia had not performed particularly well at recent international competitions. The lack of optimism was also down to some uncertainty about the final lineup, intrigues surrounding the appointment of the National Hockey Federation President, and last-minute replacement of the team's manager. Perhaps, it is Vladimir Krikunov, the Russian squad's new manager, who should be given credit for their third place at the 2005 World Cup. In cooperation with his fellow coaches Boris Mikhailov and Vladimir Yurzinov, he had been able, within a short period of time, to build a team of like minds and to create an atmosphere that would make it possible for them to remain optimistic however daunting the challenges ahead. Russia's wins in matches with the Czechs and the Finns are the best proof. And they managed to beat the Swedes in the match for third place despite the fact that they had taken them on just one day after the upsetting semifinal defeat inflicted by the Canadians.
The lineup handpicked by Krikunov also proved quite efficient. He selected young, promising players as well seasoned ones.
But this year's World Cup brought out some weak points in the Russian team, as well. Unless these are addressed, they cannot aspire to any major success at the Winter Olympics in Turin.
First of all, Russia should try and make the selection of players and coaches a less nerve-wracking business than it has been up to now. Asked recently by reporters whether he was being considered for the position of the Olympic team's manager, Krikunov said that no one had made the offer to him thus far.
Also, the team will need a stronger goalkeeper; some fresh blood in the fullback lineup won't hurt, either.
That said, Russia's bronze in the latest World Cup certainly makes them a force to be reckoned with.
