The Finnish hockey team, referred to as the Lions, is set to compete against Switzerland in the quarterfinals of the World Championship. Switzerland enters the match with a reputation of strong performance, having secured silver medals in the last two World Championships. In contrast, Finland's recent tournament placements were eighth and seventh, marking them as a team that has not reached their previous heights. Furthermore, the Swiss team includes many players who were part of the squad that narrowly lost to the USA in last year's World Championship final during overtime, highlighting their competitive edge.

This Swiss team boasts 19 Olympic players and is led by experienced head coach Patrick Fischer, who has guided the nation to three World Championship silver medals. The squad has bolstered its lineup with talent from the NHL; however, the recent injury of Kevin Fiala has slightly affected their roster, reducing their NHL representation from ten to nine. Notably, prominent players such as Roman Josi and Nico Hischier, captains of Nashville and New Jersey respectively, remain in the lineup, ensuring that Switzerland remains a formidable adversary for Finland.

In the group stage, Switzerland displayed impressive form, achieving a dominant 4-0 victory over France, albeit facing a tough 1-5 loss to Canada, which they bounced back from by defeating the Czech Republic 4-3 in overtime. In their quarterfinal matchup against the tournament hosts, Italy, Switzerland took early control, leading 2-0 in the first period thanks to goals from Philipp Kurashev and Josi. This promising start sets the stage for what will undoubtedly be an intense contest against the Finnish team, with both sides vying for a place in the semifinals.