Defending champions Sweden progressed by beating Switzerland 7-2 at the Arena Riga to help maintain their record of appearing in every final since the biannual tournament’s inception in 1996.

In the other semi, Finland eventually saw off the Czech Republic 4-3, but needed a Eemeli Salin goal seven seconds before full time to send them through.

Out of the previous five finals, nine-time competition champions Swedes have won three, including the last couple in 2014, 3-2, and 2012, 11-5.

Their route to the 2016 showdown was not as easy as the scoreline suggests as they saw a 2-0 lead evaporate against the Swiss.

Kim Nilsson and Rikard Eriksson had put Sweden ahead in the first period, but they stumbling in the second set of 20 minutes and their opponents got level through Nico Scalvinoni and Nicola Bischofberger.

Sweden managed to dig deep though and in the third period bounced back with five goals to sail into the final.

Nilsson added a second to his name with the last goal of the match after Rasmus Enstrom bagged a brace and Alexander Calstrom and Johannes Larsson also got on the scoresheet.

Finland’s triumphs came in 2008 and 2010 when they beat Sweden 7-6 and 6-2 in the finals.

They made a good start to their last four encounter against the Czechs with Sami Johansson and Miko Kailiala putting them 2-0 up by the end of the first period.

The Czechs came back out in feisty mood and just after the half hour mark, Tomas Sladky pulled one back.

Johansson restored the two goal cushion just 13 seconds later, but before the end of the second period, Tom Ondrusek grabbed another score for the Czechs to make it 3-2.

Then with five minutes left, an equaliser came via the stick of Daniel Sebek and at this point it seemed the momentum was with the Czechs.

Finland did not lie down though and broke Eastern European hearts with the clock on 59:53 when Salin spun round and found a gap between the posts and goalkeeper to send his country into the final in dramatic fashion.

Elsewhere at the tournament, Denmark and Norway will battle for fifth place after defeating Estonia and Germany respectively.

The final takes place tomorrow and is due to start at 5.40pm local time.