Czechs prepare for finals in World Ice Hockey Championship

Town squares, pubs and namely hockey fans across the Czech Republic are preparing for the final match of the Ice Hockey World Championships, in which the Czech team will be taking on the reigning champion, Russia, in Cologne, Germany. Thousands of spectators are expected to watch the match in Prague’s Old Town Square, where two large television screens have been set up for the event, while President Václav Klaus said he will be travelling to Germany to attend the game in person. The Czech Republic advanced to the final round by defeating Sweden 3:2 in on Saturday. The third round of normal play ended in a 2:2 draw after Karel Rachůnek scored eight seconds prior to the whistle. Penalty shots then decided the outcome. Sunday’s final match begins at 20.30 CET.