Czech U23 Martin Stupka: Finishing without medal = disappointment

As the final tournament approaches, the final roster of your national team is taking shape. How satisfied are you with the team that your coaching staff has put together? And how much can the lineup still change before the World Championships?
Whether I am satisfied or not is probably not so relevant. The most important thing is for the team that will represent us to pull together and work towards their goal game by game. I believe that the coaching staff knows how they want the team to be composed and what types of players will fit into their vision of how the team should play. The preparation for the World Championships has been long, the coaches have tried out many players, and they probably have some idea, so it would be a question for them. Of course, form from the spring or injuries could still have an impact on the lineup.

There was a weekend training camp in Svitavy recently. How do you rate the organization of the event? Did the program meet your expectations, or was there anything missing?
I am always glad when there are preparatory matches against other teams in the camp program, whether it is a team from the Extraliga or the men's national team. Personally, I am usually satisfied with the content of the camps. My only complaint might be the distance between Svitavy and Usti, which is not exactly small.

The program included matches against Extraliga teams Letohrad and Hradec Kralove. Was the choice of opponents appropriate? How did you enjoy the matches, and how satisfied were you with the performance?
The games against these teams were a good test, it's just a shame that the wet and icy surface somewhat spoiled the quality of the teams' playing performance. I enjoyed the matches, especially against Hradec, where a friend and classmate from the university played. From my perspective, my performance could have been a bit better, but not every game goes perfectly, and thanks to that, I know what I still need to focus on.

What program is still awaiting your category before the start of the World Championships? Do you have an overview of the approximate number and dates of upcoming training camps and preparatory matches?
Since the spring part of the league has started, including playoffs that will run until June, there isn't much time for training camps. The coaches have outlined two camps for us before the World Championships.

What is your goal for the World Championships in Liberec? Do you consider yourselves a favorite for the tournament? What placement would be a disappointment for you personally?
I don't think any team goes to the World Championships just to participate. We don't talk about it in the locker room, and personally, I've always been humble about it, but everyone certainly wants to get to the final and win it. However, we also know that we have to take it day by day in such a tournament. We have the experience from last year's European Cup, which we definitely don't want to repeat. We have a strong team, but we have to show it on the field. It would be a disappointment for me if we finished outside of the medal positions.

Do you follow any potential opponents that you might encounter during the tournament? Are you interested in the strengths and weaknesses of rival teams and their strongest individual players?
There aren't many ways to follow foreign teams, but I assume that the coaches will find a way to prepare us for the opponents. I'm not even sure if any teams have already announced their rosters.