By Oliver Knack
semifinals! But what an awesome rollercoaster ride at the Ice Hockey World Championships for Germany. Only three narrow defeats in the first three games. Three convincing mandatory victories followed in order to reach the minimum goal of quarter-finals.
And then that crazy 3:1 (1:0, 2:1, 0:0) against Switzerland in the quarterfinals. The Swiss were the clear first in their group and were considered the clear favorites against the German team coached by the national team Harold Circle.
But once again it was the end of the line against Germany. As in the quarter-finals at the 2010 home World Cup (0:1), at the 2018 Olympics (1:2 aet) or most recently at the 2021 World Cup (2:3 aet), also in Riga.
Fear opponent Germany
The Berlin polar bear professional Marcel Nobels (31), who was also on the ice in the last two wins against Switzerland, analyzes the decisive moments of the game for BZ.
The Swiss can’t believe it. Again they lost to Germany in an important game. Once again they were the favourites Photo: picture alliance/ Keystone
Did you notice on the ice that Germany is Switzerland’s nemesis?
Noebels: There was a point in the game where I believed that. Mainly because we always scored the goals at the right time.
Then what exactly happens?
Noebels: Those are the moments that make your legs heavier and your head heavier. You think more. Especially when we then scored the underman goal. You could tell that Switzerland had lost the line and didn’t have good memories of us.
Come here, my friends: Marcel Noebels (centre) hugs goalkeeper Mathias Niederberger and Moritz Seider Photo: picture alliance/ AP
What was decisive for the victory?
Noebels: We played very solidly and defended very well. And Mathias (Keeper Mathias Niederberger; the ed.) made the important saves at the right moment.
Now it’s up to the USA in the semifinals. In the preliminary round, Germany lost 2:3. And it’s been six years since the last win against the Americans…
Noebels: To be honest, we really had a lot of chances in the preliminary round, we just didn’t score enough goals. We need to change that and improve efficiency if we want to win the game. But the USA is also in a very good mood. They found each other as a team and play consistent, very clever hockey.
They posted on Instagram as did you Son Lio cheering on the couch at home…
Noebels: My son is one and a half years old. He actually recognized me when I was in close-up. He enthusiastically joins in. I now have to talk to my wife about whether he can still see a third or maybe two on Saturday. The game doesn’t start until 5:20 p.m.