Even before the third match against Germany, the 26-time world champion Canada is under a lot of pressure at the Ice Hockey World Championships. On Pentecost Sunday, Canada lost in a second group game in Riga against arch rival USA with a 1: 5 (0: 1.0: 3.1: 1). The Canadian team lost 2–0 to hosts Latvia on Friday. Other big countries have also faced difficulties in this World Cup, which is taking place in a bubble in the wake of the coronovirus epidemic.

Defending champions Finland in Group B also lost 1: 2 (0: 0.1: 1.0: 0) in a penalty shootout against Kazakhstan on Sunday. The Kazakhs, who returned to the A-World Cup for the first time since 2016, had a 3–2 win against hosts Latvia on Saturday following a penalty shoot-out.

It is similar to the Canadians in Group A Sweden, which competed with several World Cup starters. The inexperienced Trey Kroner team lost 0: 1 (0: 0.0: 0.0: 1) to newly promoted Belarus on Sunday and failed in the second game. Sweden previously lost unexpectedly to Denmark 3: 4 and thus still do not have a single point.

Switzerland was successful: A day after the 5–2 win against the Czech Republic, the Confederates defeated Denmark 1–0. The only goal of the game was scored in the 14th minute by Timo Maier, who was successful in this tournament for the third time.

From: APA / DPA / SDA