Ice Hockey World Cup
Germany celebrates a gala goal – and yet is on the verge of elimination
May 25, 2026 – 10:30 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Germany is particularly impressive offensively against Great Britain. In order to avert the elimination in the preliminary round, you need help.
Goals against frustration: The German national ice hockey team completed the preliminary round of the World Cup with a mandatory victory – and most likely said goodbye to Switzerland. Because after the 6:3 (3:0, 1:1, 2:2) against the promoted and relegated Great Britain, the team of national coach Harold Kreis in Zurich has to hope that Latvia slips up against the outsiders Hungary on Tuesday (12.20 p.m.).
Only then would the team bus continue on to the quarter-finals in Friborg, where record world champions Canada and superstar Sidney Crosby are waiting on Thursday. What is much more realistic, however, is that the players will leave as quickly as possible on Tuesday – in the car, train or plane with their third tournament disappointment in a row in their luggage.
Future of national coach uncertain
The headwind for Kreis became sharper in Zurich. When the team was introduced before the game, his name was accompanied by boos from the German fans. It is extremely questionable whether the 67-year-old will still be allowed to stand on the boards at next year’s home World Cup in Düsseldorf, Mannheim and Schalke.
In front of the dreary backdrop of around 4,000 spectators, Schwenningen’s Alexander Karachun (14th), who came in for the injured Daniel Fischbuch, Berlin’s Frederik Tiffels (20th), Munich’s Fabio Wagner (20th), Eisbär Andreas Eder (23rd), NHL striker Joshua Samanski (41st) and Mannheim’s Leon Gawanke (50th) ensured the third win in a row. Robert Dowd (25th), Ollie Betteridge (51st) and Robert Lachowicz (55th) scored for the British in his last international match.
“Something like that takes revenge”
Captain Moritz Seider had already drawn a critical conclusion. “We lost the tournament before, we presented the opponent with far too much on a silver platter. Things like that take revenge,” said the NHL defender, referring to poor performances and unnecessary defeats at the start of the World Cup. “Now you’re standing there and shaking,” said Seider, visibly annoyed, “that shouldn’t be our claim.”
Above all, the defeats against Latvia (0:2), according to Seider “an absolute must win”, and against the USA (3:4 after a penalty shootout), when the German team was still leading 3:2 until five minutes before the end, hurt in the end. Kreis didn’t cut a good figure either: At first, the national coach didn’t manage to get his team going in time for the first games, especially on the offensive. Then he declined a challenge against the USA in the late, highly controversial equalizer because he believed he couldn’t take it. With a win against the weakest American team since the 2010 World Cup, when the now three-time Olympic champion in Cologne was almost relegated, the DEB team would have reached the quarter-finals on their own.
The discussion about Kreis’ future has gained momentum. The German-Canadian had already come under criticism after the Olympic disappointment in Milan with all the NHL stars around Leon Draisaitl. Many people now answer the question of whether he could spark new euphoria in his own country before the tournament differently than when he extended his contract in December. The enthusiasm after the silver coup at his World Cup debut in 2023 has long since completely disappeared.
