USA on course for the title: Will the Czech Republic also go under the wheels?
The USA is unstoppable. The surprise team from the United States continues to cause a sensation at the 2023 Ice Hockey World Championship. As group winners, “Team USA” now enters the knockout phase, where a showdown with the Czech national team awaits in the quarter-finals. The Eastern Europeans “only” finished fourth in their group.
It is therefore not at all surprising that the in-form US are favoured in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup. If the USA take the momentum from the group stage with them, it is obvious that a bet on head coach David Quinn’s team in the quarter-final duel between the USA and the Czech Republic will also pay off.
Team USA dominated the group stage at will, winning seven games in seven group matches. The Americans’ offence was particularly brilliant, with the USA scoring a group-best 34 goals. It is quite possible that the offensive form will be underpinned against the Czech Republic as well.
The last time the two nations met at a World Cup, a prediction paid off on the Eastern Europeans in the USA vs. Czech Republic showdown. In the match for third place at the 2022 World Cup, the Czech national team beat the USA 8-4 – a good omen ahead of the quarter-final duel?
USA – Statistics & current form
The USA have been in the knockout stages every time since the 2010 World Cup. The IIHF world number four continued the streak this year by winning their group at the current World Championships in Finland and Riga. David Quinn’s squad even has a realistic chance of winning the gold medal for the first time since 1960.
Looking back at the USA’s group phase, there was little to criticise in their game. Offensively, Quinn’s team flexed their muscles, while defensively, even top-class offensives like Finland & Co. were kept in check.
Over seven group games, the USA conceded just eight goals, with three of those eight coming in the inconsequential group final against Sweden. It therefore remains to be seen how Quinn’s team will perform against their upcoming opponents’ attack. It is quite possible that the Eastern Europeans will also be defied.
Will the semi-finals beckon for the USA again?
Last year, the USA was already represented in the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup. It was the second semi-final appearance in a row for the world number four. The Americans were already represented in the last four in 2021, when they even won the bronze medal in the third-place match. At the last World Cup, however, the USA lost to the Czech Republic in the bronze medal match.
The showdown with the Eastern Europeans even ended with a 4:8 – much to the displeasure of the USA. It was already the second defeat in a row against the Czech Republic. The USA have not won against the Czech national team since May 2018. If the negative series is now ended, there are betting odds of 1.91 for tip 1 on USA vs.
The top scorer for Team USA is currently TJ Tynan. The 31-year-old has scored just one goal so far, but the Ontario Reign attacker already has nine assists to his name. Behind Kubalik, offensive man of the Czech national team, TJ Tynan was the second best scorer of the current tournament.
Czech Republic – Statistics & current form
Czech Republic have qualified for the quarter-finals as group runners-up at the 2023 World Cup. Although Kari Jalonen’s team lost their last two group matches, their entry into the quarter-finals was never in danger. However, results against Switzerland (2:4) and Canada (1:3) will not be pretty.
The world number six thus lost three of a total of seven group matches at the 2023 World Cup. In addition to the defeats against Switzerland and Canada, the Czech Republic also lost the group match against Latvia. The role as underdog in the quarter-final duel against the USA is therefore understandable to a certain extent, even if the H2h speaks in favour of the Eastern Europeans.
Betting fans who want to bet on Kari Jalonen’s team in the USA vs. Czech Republic despite the Czech national team’s mixed group phase can pick up betting odds of up to 3.30.
Will the Czech Republic also lose to the USA?
The defensive performance of the Eastern Europeans will be decisive in the quarter-final against the USA. Compared to the group games against Switzerland and Canada, the Czech national team will have to improve a lot to keep the Americans’ concentrated offence in check.
On the offensive side, Kubalik is a great hope for the world number six. The attacking player from the Detroit Red Wings (NHL) has already recorded twelve scoring points at the current World Championship and is thus the best offensive player of the current season. With eight goals to his credit, Kubalik is also the best goal scorer. It is quite possible that the Czech will also score against the USA.
USA – Czech Republic Direct comparison / H2H-balance
In the last 22 meetings between the two nations, the Czech Republic have retained the upper hand with a record of 12-1-9. A total of 125 goals have been scored in those 22 internationals – an average of 5.68 goals per game. Bets on a high-scoring encounter had already come true in the last World Cup clash in 2022, when the 12-goal mark was even broken.
The Czech Republic won the match for third place at the 2022 World Cup with an 8:4 victory over the USA. It was the first USA vs. Czech Republic match since September 2016 in which a prediction of over 5.5 goals came true
USA – Czech Republic Tip
The USA go into the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup in great shape, not only because they finished the group stage as group winners, but also because the Americans’ offence excelled. With 34 goals, “Team USA” had the best attack of the current World Cup.
Defending champions Finland already felt the offensive power of the USA. If David Quinn’s team carries the momentum into the knockout phase, the world number four should not have too much trouble against the Czech Republic and reach the semi-finals of a World Cup for the third time in a row.
We expect a win for “Team USA” in the quarter-final duel between the two nations.
