​I believe a strong team will come together and defend the gold from Liberec, says Nicolas Langr

I wish everyone could experience a moment like that – that’s what we play sports for

Nicolas, two years ago you won gold with the Czech U23 national team at the home championship in Liberec. You scored the golden goal in overtime. Do the memories of that moment still come back to you?

I really enjoy thinking back to that whole championship – the amazing home atmosphere, how we clicked as a team, and of course that winning goal. I wish everyone could experience a moment like that – that’s exactly what we play sports for, to live through moments like this.

The final against Slovakia was very tense. After the first period, the score was tied, and it remained that way until the end of regulation. Did you feel more pressure playing in such a close game in front of home fans?

There definitely was some pressure, especially in overtime, but in that moment I didn’t even consider the possibility of us losing. On the contrary – it motivated me to keep going at full throttle until the very end.

Before the championship in Liberec, you already had experience with the senior national team. What were the main differences compared to the matches at the highest youth level?

Probably the biggest difference was experience and maturity. The pace of play was high, which led to more mistakes and inaccuracies than in the senior world championship.

I’ll definitely come watch and wish the guys all the best

The U23 category made its debut in Liberec and now returns for the second time. From a player’s perspective, how valuable were these matches?

That championship gave me a lot of confidence and experience. Every game for the national team counts, and I value them highly. I also had a bit of a different role there, which helped me not only with the national team but also back at the club level.

This year, some players with experience from the first U23 championship will also be on the roster. What do you think about the chances of defending the gold?

There are many great players on the team, including those who’ve already played in senior world championships. Especially in the offensive zone, the strength is clear. So yes, I believe a strong team will come together and defend the gold from Liberec.

Hradec Králové is close to Pardubice, and some players who were with you in Liberec are fighting for spots on this year’s roster. Will you go support them at the tournament?

I’ll definitely come watch and wish the guys all the best for the tournament. I hope there will be lots of fans, a great atmosphere, and some outstanding performances on the floor.

The Czech U23 national team won gold in Liberec in 2023. Will they manage to defend it this year?
Photo credit: Markéta Křížová