John Peterka (l) of Germany scores to make it 1-2. © Salvatore Di Nolfi/KEYSTONE/dpa
Germany's ice hockey team is in the World Cup semi-finals for the third time. As in 2010 and 2021, the DEB selection wrestled Switzerland down in an emotional duel. On Saturday, they face the USA.
Riga - Switzerland for the third time! After 2010 and 2021, Germany's ice hockey cracks are once again fighting for a World Championship medal after a quarter-final victory against their arch-rivals.
Like two years ago, Germany won again in Riga on Thursday, this time the DEB selection prevailed 3-1 (1-0, 2-1, 0-0).
EHC Red Bull Munich's Maximilian Kastner (7th minute) and NHL forwards John-Jason Peterka (38th) and Nico Sturm (39th) fired national coach Harold Kreis's team into the semi-finals, where they will face the USA again in Tampere, Finland, on Saturday.
DEB team without Seider
In a heated and emotional game, the combatively strong German team also got over a game-time disciplinary penalty for NHL defenseman Moritz Seider. With the victory, the team of the German Ice Hockey Federation also secured direct Olympic qualification for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan.
Now there is a chance to win a World Championship medal for the first time in 70 years. 2 years ago in Riga and 13 years ago at the home World Championships, the attempt had failed. Both times, Germany finished fourth. In 1953, the DEB team had last won silver at the World Championships, but at that time only four nations had participated.
As Toni Söderholm's successor, Kreis can already look back on a strong World Cup debut as head coach. Both goals set by the federation - the entry into the quarter-finals and the direct qualification for the Olympics - managed Kreis with his team, although the 64-year-old had canceled 15 top performers injured before the tournament. Among others, Leon Draisaitl, Tim Stützle and Philipp Grubauer, the three best German NHL players besides Seider, will not be present in Finland and Latvia this time.
Many experts had little confidence in the current squad before the tournament and, above all, in the attack hardly any goal threat. In fact, the district team has so far convinced with great unity and sovereign victories in all games that had to be won.
Unfortunate start for district team
On Thursday, Germany were the underdogs for the first time since the unfortunate start to the World Cup with narrow defeats against Sweden (0-1), Finland (3-4) and the USA (2-3). Switzerland, who finished first in Group B, have already been hailed as the "best World Cup team in history" at home, but now have to return home early.
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Swiss coach Patrick Fischer had even dispensed with his number one Leonardo Genoni, who had been in goal for the Swiss in the previous two knockout defeats in 2018 and 2021. For the goalkeeper who has been outstanding at the World Cup so far, Robert Mayer of Servette Geneva was in goal.
And that was a wrong decision on Fischer's part! Mayer let a harmless shot from Kastner slip through the schooners early on and looked wobbly in the first period. "Of course you have that in your head, they will have it in your head too," DEB captain Moritz Müller said before the game about Germany's previous victories in knockout games against Switzerland. And indeed, the Confederates, who had been so strong in this tournament before, suddenly uncertainties were noticeable. "I think we've taken a bit of the rhythm out of the game," said goal scorer Kastner at Sport1 during the third break.
Switzerland equalises to make it 1-1
Switzerland, however, came out of the locker room with new momentum and quickly equalized through NHL defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler (21st). After that, things got heated. Three supernumerary situations, including after stick strikes by Andreas Ambühl and Enzo Corvi, left the DEB selection unused. After that, Seider committed his momentous foul against Gäetan Haas. Germany's best defender was out of the game.
The reaction of Seider's teammates, however, was particularly strong. A class combination after surviving the five-minute deficit was successfully completed by Germany's World Cup top scorer Peterka. And even before the second half-time, the striker, who has been outstanding at the World Cup so far, even scored outnumbered.
"A player can't replace him. That's what the guys who are left have to do now," Sturm told MagentaSport before the final third about Seider's penalty. Closed and with a lot of fight and countless blocked shots, his team actually brought the victory over time. Dpa