Slowed down to the quarter-finals
Julia Zorn is the captain of the German national ice hockey team. The 31-year-old Bavarian is the reigning champion with the ESC Planegg-Würmtal. At the start of the World Cup, she will meet up with the DEB selection on Saturday evening (8 p.m. CEST / 12 p.m. local time in Calgary – live on theFan.FM) against Hungary. We spoke to her shortly before the first match.
Ms. Zorn, are you a patient person?
Unfortunately not at all. But I would say that in the last four years I have, by necessity, learned a lot.
After 2019 you had to wait almost two and a half years before you were allowed to go to a World Cup again. How have you spent the weeks and months since the last short-term cancellation?
First of all, I “fled” from home for a few days and went to visit my best friend and her family. But then we didn’t have much time and the summer training started again.
You always think that in summer you finally have time for the things (and especially people) that are neglected during the season. But then summer is always over so quickly …
On August 10th we actually started for Canada this time. Before you could get on the ice there, you had to do a five-day individual quarantine in your hotel room in Calgary. Have you discovered new talents in yourself? Learned musical instruments or something like that?
New talent was not discovered. But the first three days slowed down brutally and I have to admit that it was very good.
How many times have they been tested lately?
Corona? 14 times since August 2nd.
You have to wear what is known as a tracing bracelet to keep track of your contacts. Are you feeling persecuted?
Not really. For one thing, at some point you forget that you are wearing it. On the other hand, we generally always disclose everything to the anti-doping agency about when and where we are. Then this bracelet doesn’t really matter.
The first and only real test match for the World Cup on Wednesday against Denmark was a close one. As a captain, you have set a good example. Mainly won, right?
Mainly won, I wouldn’t say. The win was hard work over 65+ minutes. There are no supposedly easy opponents in this tournament and we have to be 100 percent there every match day to win.
How would you describe the tactical style of play of the German team in 2021?
We don’t want to give up the disc unnecessarily. I would say: playfully creative, with a lot of leg work and disc possession.
Are there any changes in the game of the German team that the new national coach Thomas Schädler has established compared to his predecessor Christian Künast?
There aren’t too big differences. The association would like to have a signature that runs through all teams. That’s why the tactical change wasn’t too big.
This year’s World Cup is already your ninth in the women’s category. Are you still excited?
Every World Cup is something very special and has its own preparation path. For that reason alone, every tournament is different.
For me it is still something very special to be able to represent Germany at a World Cup and to be able to compete with the best in the world. And yes, even after all this time, I’m still excited – positively excited.
What is the goal of the German team for this World Cup?
We definitely want to reach the quarter-finals.
How do you go into the game against newly promoted Hungary?
We know that the Hungarians will demand everything from us. We have to be wide awake from the start and put our own stamp on the game. We are all hot to finally start!
After the World Cup, the next important tournament will follow in Füssen in mid-November, the Olympic qualification for Beijing 2022. Do you already have that in mind?
Julia Zorn: Definitely in summer. At the moment the focus is clearly on the World Cup.
I wish you success!
