4 awesome goal songs reach World Cup semis

Watch Ivan Telegin's power move to put Team Russia ahead 2-0.

TORONTO – Most look at the four teams still standing in the World Cup of Hockey and shake their collective head in disbelief at concentration of elite hockey talent involved. Fair enough.

But we’re also nodding our heads, considering the four inspired goal song selections for Canada, Russia, Sweden and Europe will still be on the Air Canada Centre’s playlist.

For every Sidney Crosby there is a Wiz Khalifa; for every Anze Kopitar a Jack White.

We take a look at the funky four (plus one more) celebration tunes. More goals this weekend, please.

TEAM CANADA – “We Dem Boyz”
Plays: 14

As author of the Steelers Nation rallying cry “Black and Yellow,” Pittsburgh’s Wiz Khalifa is no stranger to pumping up sports venues.

The boyz of Team Canada have been rolling up with the same 2014 frat-boy rap anthem Corey Perry, Brad Marchand and Ryan O’Reilly rocked all the way to gold at the 2016 World Championship.

“I don’t know who it came from,” O’Reilly says, “but it’s nice hearing it — that’s for sure.”

Logan Couture thought the tune was Perry’s idea.

“It wasn’t me,” says Perry, channeling his inner Shaggy. “Don’t look at me. I had nothing to do with it, but I don’t mind it. Might be Doughty — let’s go there.”

Yep, consensus says it was Drew Doughty‘s choice. But musically, you build from the net out. So starting goalie Carey Price is Canada’s dressing room DJ. How does Price set the mood?

“Country in the mornings and some hip-hop at night before the game,” Couture says.

TEAM RUSSIA – “Dorogoi Dlinnoyu”
Plays: 8

The Russians dug deep in the crates for their jaunty goal jam, which was originally composed by Boris Fomin and written by poet Konstantin Podrevsky way back in the 1920s. Head coach Oleg Znarok’s translator told us it translates literally to “By the Long Road” and was a soulful tune popular during the country’s romantic period.

“You know the time of gypsies and dancing bears?” she explained.

Yes. Yes, we do.

“Dorogoi Dlinnoyu” reminisces upon youth and idealism and is better known on this side of the pond by its English-spun cousin “Those Were the Days.” Produced by Paul McCartney, Mary Hopkin’s 1968 version of the song became a No. 1 U.K. hit in 1968.

Reporter Aivis Kalniņš tells us KHL teams seldom choose specific goal songs, but “Dorogoi Dlinnoyu” is in heavy rotation at SKA’s rink, the new home of Pavel Datsyuk.

TEAM SWEDEN – “En För Alla För En”
Plays: 7

If you enjoy this hockey-catered joint, specially recorded for Team Sweden by a group called Tre Kronor (featuring The Poodles!) when Stockholm hosted the 2013 World Championship, watch the video. Your appreciation will triple like crowns. Hair! Outfits! Flames! More hair!

“It’s a hockey song for the national team. I like it,” defenceman Niklas Hjalmersson says. “Without the fans we don’t have a league, so anything we can do to make them enjoy the game even more.”

Sample lyrics (translated) for “One for All, All for One”: “Red or white / Green or grey / Eventually they’ll be black and blue /
Yes, nothing can stop us / One for all, all for one.”

Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting could not be reached for comment.

TEAM EUROPE – “Seven Nation Army”
Plays: 7

OK, so this one’s pretty slick. Europe coach and World Cup poet laureate Ralph Kruger called his experimental crew “a team with no future and no past.” What better a rallying cry than The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” for a club composed of eight nations (maybe France is implied?) that served the Czechs and Team USA couldn’t hold back.

“I don’t want to talk about songs and anthems anymore. We put that topic in the rest already,” GM Miroslav Satan says. “The guys found something they like. It’s fine, whatever they play.”

It’s more than fine. It’s awesome.

Bonus Beat

TEAM NORTH AMERICA – “Opposite of Adults”
Plays: 11

Regrettably, Team North America is no more. Gone with them is one of the best goal song choices of all time.

Philly rap crew Chiddy Bang’s “Opposite of Adults,” which pulls its addictive sample from MGMT’s awesome “Kids,” was spot-on for a group of 23-and-unders. Much like Team North America, the duo Chiddy Bang — Anamege and Xaphoon Jones — broke up, likely to never be heard from again. #RIPTNA

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