Grāpēna scores six as Latvia win 22-3 and set three national team records in floorball

Latvia's women's floorball team beat France 22-3 (12-0, 7-2, 3-1) in Riga on Thursday in their second game at the qualifying tournament for the 2027 world championship. Two wins from two guarantee Latvia at least second place in Group D. Friday's game against Denmark at 19:00 Riga time will decide who finishes first and goes straight to the finals in Finland.

First goal after 26 seconds

The game was settled in the first period. Captain Jūlija Rozīte opened the scoring after 26 seconds, and Latvia led 12-0 after 20 minutes. France called a timeout at 6-0 down, but it changed little. The French scored twice in the second period, while Latvia added seven more.

Simona Grāpēna completed a hat-trick in the first period and scored her sixth goal in the 51st minute after a quick two-on-one with Emīlija Salaciete. She finished with six goals and two assists, while Salaciete had two goals and five assists, Sportacentrs.com reported. All three figures, goals, points and assists in a single game, are new records for the Latvian women's team in official games.

Milestones in a Latvia shirt

They were Grāpēna's 60th goal and 90th point for her country. Rozīte reached 30 goals for Latvia, and Luīze Raseiceva, who had six points (2+4) in the game, reached 20 points for the national team. Rozīte was named Latvia's player of the game.

Only two French players scored: Mali Količio twice and Marine Klopfenstein once. The teams had met only once before, 11 years ago in Valmiera, when Latvia won 15-0.

What comes next

After two rounds Latvia and Denmark have four points each in Group D, with goal records of 29-4 and 15-5. France and Great Britain have no points. France play Great Britain at 13:00 on Friday, and Latvia face Denmark at 19:00.

The group winners qualify directly for the world championship and meet in the tournament final. The runners-up play the third-placed teams from the other group on Saturday, and the winners of those games also go to Turku. Group C is made up of Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium.