Captain Christian Ehrhoff is looking forward to the big crowd against Latvia
Patrick Hager had to smile when his former teammate Herberts Vasiljevs provocatively asked him whether Hager would have to go on vacation on Wednesday. “I don’t know what you’re doing, but I’ll relax since we’re playing again on Thursday,” countered Hager confidently and laughed.
The background was clear: Vasiljevs, who ended his career with the after last season Krefeld Pinguinen had finished, is working as an expert at the World Cup for Latvian television and stopped by the training of the German team on Monday. A little chat with Hager was necessary. Before the duel with the Latvians, the national team's discussion partners were in high demand anyway. “We know that Latvia has a strong team. “It’s going to be a close game,” said national coach Marco Sturm.
Christian Ehrhoff was in the same vein. The captain warned: “We won 3-2 in Riga in September, so they still have a score to settle with us and will do everything in their power to spoil our place in the quarter-finals at the World Cup in our own country.”
One of those who will play an important role on Tuesday (20.15:11 p.m., live on SPORTXNUMX) is, of course, Leon Draisaitl. The NHL star is clearly in the spotlight and is expected to boost the German game. "You always have to watch out for Leon. He always has an idea ready that he can use to create dangerous situations," Vasiljevs also reported: "But Germany has other good players."
Although it is not yet clear how the game will end, one can already assume that the arena will resemble a madhouse. Because also the Latvian ones Fans are represented numerous and atmospherically in Cologne. “Such a game in front of such a backdrop – it couldn’t be better,” even Ehrhoff noted the anticipation.