After five of the seven preliminary round games, it is already clear that the German national ice hockey team has another chance to reach the World Cup semi-finals.
Helsinki: Germany’s ice hockey team will take on Kazakhstan in the final group match of the World Championships in Finland on Sunday.
Even before the duel with the outsiders in Helsinki (3.20 pm / Sport1 and MagentaSport), national coach Tony Soderholm’s team has been determined as the quarter-finalists. “It’s good to reach the quarter-finals two games before the end of the group stage,” said captain Moritz Müller.
at the start of the quarter finals
Starting position: After three months of disappointment at the Olympics before the quarter-finals, this time around the selection is already round the top eight. Denmark’s victory over France (3-0) on Saturday also put an end to math’s last doubts. Germany is currently at number three in its group. Second place would have the advantage of being an easy quarter-final opponent and not needing to move from Helsinki to Tampere. With a further three points, the best ever German World Cup preliminary round would have been determined, achieved at the 2019 World Cup Premier under Söderholm in Slovakia.
rival:
Kazakhstan are by far the weakest team in the German preliminary round group and are still without a point. The Kazakhs lost to Switzerland, France and Slovakia by only one goal. The start was a violent 1:9 against Denmark, and the Kazakhs lost 3:6 against Canada. The team has to stay in the World Group against Italy on Monday.
Stats:
So far there have been only four World Cup doubles – with two wins and two losses. In the World Cup held in Riga last year, he was world number 15. Shown as an unpleasant challenge. Germany lost 2:3.
Staff:
It is doubtful that NHL striker Tim Stutzl will play again for the first time since his injury from a France game (3:2) on Monday evening. After 9:4 against Italy, Söderholm left it open whether the other players were injured. “We see in every game what the situation is, who needs a break, who is injured. We have to be smart,” the Finn said.
This is what national coach Tony Soderholm says of the opening quarter-finals: “Of course it’s a good sign that the team has done a lot so far. We’re going game-wise anyway and continue to work purposefully.” Huh.”
landscape:
The last group game will be against Switzerland on Tuesday (11.20am/Sport1 and MagentaSport). The Swiss have also already been scheduled to participate in the quarter-finals. The quarter finals will be played on Thursday.
