World Lacrosse Championships - Day Eleven

JUDGEMENT DAY

One year ago Finland beat Denmark in double overtime in the Scandinavian Challenge tournament. since then we've looked forward to a rematch, to force luck on to our side and get that victory. A victory over Finland was the primary objective of our 2006 lacrosse world games.

We were blown away. Finland took an early lead and shut us down on offence. By halftime the score was 8-0. We scored our first goal in the fourth. At the final whistle Finland was up 14-4. Denmark looked tired, nobody moved for each other and in a game where we had to play at 100% and hope for Finland to make mistakes that meant total defeat.

The team and the flow was cramped up and frustrated. No one had fun (except the Fins). The red war paint underneath our eyes melted in the heat and tears of sweat dragged the color down over our cheeks as Finland hammered one ball after another to the back of our net. we didn't have a chance. Physically and, after only a few minutes also, mentally superior, Finland controlled the game from start to end.

Enough said.

A lot of the guys (and some of the coaches) went out and got hammered that night. I went out to dinner with my family and decided to have a couple of beers and my first cigarette in two months. Chill out, the pressure is off.

Though moral was low immediately after the game, it didn't last long. Spirit quickly lifted as if everybody felt the pressure of the Finland match was a nice thing to get rid of.

Among those who didn't tour the bars the atmosphere was relaxed and thougthful. Focus is shifting back to playing the game for the sake of the game and everyone seems more comfortable with that.

Tomorrow we play Korea before heading for the stadium to watch Finland get destroyed by Canada.