Slovakia's effort was commendable against a powerful Sweden team, but ultimately they were overpowered by captain Axel Sandin-Pellikka's decisive hat trick performance.
The USA's dominance was clear in their overwhelming win against Germany, leaving questions about how their relaxed gameplay might hold up against stronger opponents.
Czech Republic's convincing 5-1 victory over Switzerland cements them as serious contenders, particularly with Michal Hrabel proving his mettle in this opener.
Despite individual moments of brilliance, Slovakia struggled to contain the relentless offensive onslaught from Sweden, highlighting the gap in competitive readiness.
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