Sweden - Finland predictions and free betting tips [23/05/2024]

Today the quarter-final match of the Elite Division World Hockey Championship will commence. International hockey enthusiasts are in for a thrilling encounter between Sweden and Finland.

Sweden

The Swedish national team is among the best in Europe and globally. The Swedish squad always aims for the top spots and is set to compete for medals. A year ago, they played well below their potential, exiting at the quarter-final stage. In the 2023 quarter-finals, Sweden surprisingly lost to Latvia. However, in 2024, the Swedish team has shown a more stable and classy game, finishing the group stage without dropping any points, securing first place. The yellow and blue confidently defeated all their group stage competitors, including the USA, Germany, and Slovakia. Beating stronger opponents was a challenge, while playing against underdogs was straightforward, as reflected in the scores. Initially, Sweden triumphed over Poland with a 5:1 score, followed by dominant victories against Kazakhstan, Latvia, and France. These performances demonstrate that the Swedish team has learned from last year's mistakes. In the clash with Finland, the yellow and blue are clear favourites. 

Finland

The Finnish players are considered one of the strongest European teams. However, their recent performances on the world stage have been less than stellar. Last year, Finland hosted the World Championship but failed to impress their fans, exiting at the quarter-final stage against Canada. In 2024, Finland has performed at a similar level to their home championship, securing the 4th spot in their group only in the last round. They nearly missed the quarter-finals but were helped by the British players, who, despite lacking motivation, defeated Austria. During the 7 group stage matches, Finland secured only 3 victories, defeating Great Britain, Norway, and Denmark. They lost to Czechia, Austria, Canada, and Switzerland in the other matches, all but one (against Czechia) ending in regulation time. Considering Sweden's strength and consistent group stage performance, Finland's chances of advancing are slim. 

Head-to-Head

Sweden and Finland have faced each other in 84 matches. Sweden has claimed 44 victories, while Finland has emerged victorious in 40 encounters.

Match Prediction: Sweden - Finland

Sweden will win in regulation time. The Swedish players are much more consistent compared to their eternal rivals, Finland, who reached the quarter-finals by chance. The key for Sweden is to stay focused and enter the match prepared to avoid an upset.