SINGAPORE, 9 December 2023 – Finland and Sweden have secured their spots in the Women’s World Floorball Championships (WFC) 2023 final after their respective semi-final victories on Saturday (9 December).

World No. 2 Finland recorded a convincing 8-2 win over the Czech Republic and will be joined by familiar rivals and eight-time defending champions Sweden, who laboured to defeat Switzerland 4-2. World No. 1 Sweden lead Finland 34-14 in their head-to-head record.

Earlier at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Saturday, hosts Singapore fell 13-1 to Norway to finish 12th.

The results from Dec 9 are as follows.

Latvia v Slovakia

Slovakia made a roaring start, with Kristina Hudakova scoring just 26 seconds in. Michaela Sponiarova made it 2-0 for Slovakia, who were in attacking mode throughout the first period – they made 15 shots while Latvia made just five. Latvia scored through Emilija Salaciete 35 seconds into the second period, but Slovakia pulled ahead with two goals from Lenka Cervena and Michaela Sponiarova. The third period saw a flurry of goals, and with Slovakia up 6-2, Latvia played without a goalkeeper and narrowed the score with two goals. Their comeback was halted as the final whistle confirmed Slovakia’s 6-4 win. Slovakia will play against Poland for 5th place on Sunday while Latvia play for 7th against Denmark.

Poland v Denmark

Poland extended their winning record against Denmark to eight after beating them in the first 5th-8th place play-off on Saturday. World No. 5 Poland were the favourites going in, but world No. 10 Denmark did well to hold their own against the higher-ranked side, employing a tight defence to shut their opponents down. Both goalkeepers also starred for their respective sides as imperious figures in front of goal to deflect all shots that came their way. Poland finally broke the deadlock in the 26th minute, making good use of their numerical advantage during a power play when Hanna Samson squeezed the ball in from a tight angle. Samson then doubled her team’s lead 30 seconds from time with her second goal of the game, tapping in the rebound from Malwina Zagorska’s attempt. Never ones to go down fighting, Denmark pulled one back seconds into the third period through forward Sofia Vestergaard Frederiksen’s strike. But shortly after, Poland eventually added five goals in the final period to put the game to bed. Poland next face world No. 6 Slovakia for fifth place while Denmark will play Latvia for seventh on Sunday.

Singapore v Norway

Singapore matched their best-ever WFC result, finishing in 12th position after falling 13-1 to Norway at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The hosts were overpowered from the beginning as Norway came out with all guns blazing from the starting whistle. The visitors recorded a total of 63 shots throughout the match, while Singapore had just five. After Norway quickly racked up a 5-0 lead, Singapore earned some reprieve through Siti Nurhaliza Khairul Anuar towards the end of the second period. But the hosts’ defence unravelled in the third and Norway seized their chances, running rampant on an eight-goal spree to take the win and place 11th. Singapore’s 12-placed finish matches their best result, which was achieved at the 2019 WFC, and is an improvement from their 14th-placed finish from the previous WFC in 2021.

Finland v Czech Republic

Finland secured their Women’s World Floorball Championships 2023 spot with a convincing 8-2 win over the Czech Republic. Oona Kauppi drew first blood for Finland, slotting home from her twin Veera’s pass. Going a goal down early did not dampen the Czechs’ spirits as their supporters cheered them on to keep fighting. The Czech Republic were brave to take shots but could not clear the final hurdle of Finnish goalkeeper Noora Vuorela. Exactly 12 minutes after the first goal, it was then Veera’s turn to score as Oona turned provider for her. Vanessa Keprtova pulled one back for Czech Republic before the first break, but Finland came out blazing in the second period. They scored four goals to Czech Republic’s one to lead 6-2 going into the final period. The Czech Republic did well to contain Finland in the final period but were unable to find the net themselves. Finland defender My Kippila eventually scored the only goal of the third period to complete her side’s decisive victory.

Sweden v Switzerland

Defending champions Sweden survived what was arguably their toughest test in Singapore, battling hard to hold back a persistent Switzerland side to triumph 4-2 in the WFC 2023 semi-finals. Sweden were tested from the beginning but managed to edge ahead for a 2-1 lead at the end of the first 20 minutes. Ellen Backstedt widened the eight-time defending champions’ advantage to 3-1 by the end of the second period. But Switzerland, having faltered at the very same stage at the 2021 WFC, showed just how determined they were in the third period. They raised their level of play and stepped up their attack, a move which was rewarded with Celine Stettler scoring Switzerland’s second goal. The latter also kept a tight defence to successfully limit Sweden, until forward Wilma Johansson scored to extend the lead to 4-2. Still, the Swiss remained unfazed as they continued to go for their shots. Sweden were eventually saved by the final whistle, and will face familiar foes Finland in a repeat of the 2021 WFC final. Switzerland will play against the Czech Republic for third place.

Tickets are available at https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/wfc2023. More match updates are available at https://app.floorball.sport/leagueorganizer/Magazine/92#/leagueorganizersite/92/start.