Three years after the silver sensation at the Olympics, the German national ice hockey team missed the next final, but still had a chance to win the first World Cup medal in 68 years.
National coach Tony Soderholm’s team lost 1:2 (0:2, 1:0, 0:0) to dominant defending champions Finland in a ruthless semi-final in Riga and will play for bronze against the USA on Sunday (2:15). afternoon).
Finland will face Canada in the final
Mannheim’s Matthias Plachta (32nd) scored the connecting goal for the selection of the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB), which last won the precious metal in 1953. Two silver and two bronze medals have been recorded at the World Championships so far. Three-time title winners Eiro Pakarinen (14th) and Hans Bjrninen (19th) were successful for Finland, who will face Canada in the final on Sunday (7:15 pm).
Despite a strong performance, the German team, which had lost 2–1 to Finland in the first round, failed in the last four rounds at the 2010 home World Cup. At that time, the precious metals dream exploded after a 1:2 against Russia in the short final with a 1:3 against Sweden.
DEB team dangerous from the beginning
“You never know when you’ll get this opportunity again. You just have to enjoy it,” Soderholm said before the game. And promised his compatriots: “Germany will be a very unpleasant rival for the Finns today.” His players took these words to heart and, after waiting for the favourites, they had their first chance to score: defender Moritz Cedar and striker Marcus Eisenschim failed to thwart goalkeeper Jussi Olkinuora (4th) within seconds.
In the first semi-final since the 2010 home World Cup, the German team, which was tactically similar to the world champions from Söderholm, was initially the more active team. After a counterattack, Mannheimer Eisenschmidt again had the opportunity to take the (11th) lead.
The Scandinavians’ first successful attack turned the course of the game on its head: When Pakarinen shot, the now-strong Berlin master goalkeeper Mathias Niederberger didn’t cut a happy figure, the goal slipped from his feet.
mistakes punished coldly
The Finns made another mistake with a 2–0 win. After a poor pass from young star Lukas Reichel, Björninen suddenly broke free in front of Niederberger. Shortly before, the Cedars had missed a big equalization opportunity. “The goals were really unnecessary,” said NHL striker Dominic Kahun in Sport 1, adding that “we have to do it better.”
In the second power play, DEB selection broke the concrete of the finish defense: Plakta hit with a slap shot from the blue line and brought his team back into the game. With renewed energy, the German team went into the last third and at times limited the Finns in their field. Jonas Müller (45.) and Marcel Noables (53./55.) missed out on the draw.
Sports Information Service (SID)
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