OIt was not possible without skirmishes. Ice hockey games in which the German selection meets the Swiss team have always been characterized by a rivalry that has grown over decades. In the duels and checks, the actors get down to business with an intensity that is fed by the conviction that victories against neighbors are particularly important.
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It was no different in the quarter-finals of the World Championships in Latvia. But because this time the professionals largely obeyed the rules, a thrilling encounter developed that combined all sorts of aspects that speak for the new class of eternal competitors: What the Germans and Swiss delivered was exciting, high-class – and impeccable. The referees hardly had to sanction the readiness for action. With all the ambition with which each individual went to work, fair play was never neglected.
And at the end of an exchange of blows over 70 minutes, in which later neither side had to reproach themselves for not having thrown everything into the balance, the German team was 3: 2 after penalty shoot-out (0: 1, 1: 1, 1: 0, 0: 0, 1: 0) as a radiant winner.
She reached the round of the best four nations and had the chance to win a World Cup medal for the first time in 68 years. Now she is challenged this Saturday (5.15 p.m. at Sport1) in the semifinals against Finland, which prevailed 1-0 against the Czech Republic. In the other duel, Canada and the USA will play on Saturday (1:15 p.m.) for a place in the final on Sunday (7:15 p.m.).
Noebels got fit in time
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Tom Kühnhackl after the success. “We put everything in that was in the tank. We enjoy what happened and then we focus on what is to come. Regardless of who it is against. ”Söderholm’s requirement of how to survive this afternoon in Riga sounded easier said than done. But it worked.
It was important to “control the emotions”, the national coach had said in advance, knowing full well that it could be difficult to keep a cool head in this Swiss-Germanic dispute. According to Söderholm, if you want to win, you have to “get it all out” but “stay cool” at the same time. That sounded more moderate than sports director Christian Künast, who had prophesied “a battle” and fortunately was not right in terms of sport.
The fact that Marcel Noebels got fit in time increased the possibilities of variation in the attack for Söderholm and paid off after a gripping fight. The striker injured his hand in the preliminary round match against Latvia on Tuesday, so his use remained questionable until shortly before the start. After it was Noebels of all people who crowned this showdown on Thursday with a technical masterpiece from a German perspective, Söderholm thanked him with a warm hug on the way to the locker room, where a “small celebration” began, as Dominik Kahun said.
The Germans had sold themselves as dearly as possible from the start. They closed the pass paths at the boards, fired a lot of shots and put in a lot of running effort to secure the zone around Mathias Niederberger with at least three players if necessary. And the goalkeeper took it courageously when Enzo Corvi withdrew (14th).
One-handed luck: Marcel Noebels shoots Germany with a very special penalty in the World Cup semi-finals.
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Image: AFP
However, there was nothing to stop shortly afterwards when Ramon Untersander showed up in front of him: The defender took advantage of a carelessness on the part of the Germans, who were not aware of his advance quickly enough, and scored the Swiss lead from close range (16.). Söderholm could then be seen gesticulating and loudly encouraging his staff.
The Finn could not be dissatisfied with their commitment, rather with the fact that his players repeatedly let themselves be pushed outwards instead of looking for a direct conclusion. The so-called “Energy Line” of the Swiss increased the lead: Noah Rod and Christoph Bertschy quickly switched to a straight attack after conquering the Pucker, which Frabrice Herzog completed with the second goal (34th).
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The German stamina was strengthened when Kühnhackl scored 1: 2 shortly before the end of the second third (38th). He and his teammates then put on the final spurt with verve, and they found the gap that would have needed to force overtime: Leon Gawanke scored the equalizer 44 seconds before the end of regular time (60th). In the “three against three” mode, for which the remaining power reserves had to be mobilized again, the ten-minute extension began, which both contested with open visors and in complete equilibrium.
So a decision had to be made in the penalty shootout. Skill and luck tipped the scales in favor of the Germans, for whom Noebels put a final point in the fifth attempt with a one-hand attempt that will go down in German ice hockey history. “I turned my head off and my heart slipped a lot lower”, the match winner described the highlight moment afterwards, “I am happy and proud to have made this giant step with the team. She has an incredible character, shows strength and is on the right track. ”Above all, it goes even further.
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