“Want to surprise” / Scandinavians favored
So now it counts. The German national team will play against Finland next night - or rather very early morning German time - in the first game of the 2018 Olympic Games. The first disc is thrown in at 12.10:4.10 p.m. local time (XNUMX:XNUMX a.m. in Germany). The question is: Can it? DEB-Choose to surprise a big opponent like the Finns?
“The fact is that we got the strongest group,” says national coach Marco Sturm, referring to the traditionally excellently trained Scandinavians. Nevertheless, as the 39-year-old former NHL professional also knows, the first game is always the hardest in a tournament for the favorite. Which of course doesn't change the fact that the German selection is the blatant outsider.
“We are not here to be tourists at the Olympic Games. “We want to surprise and annoy the big guys,” says Christian Ehrhoff, nevertheless confidently. The defender is one of the most experienced players in the team in his fourth games DEBteams and invokes team spirit for the next three games. “We all get along really well on and off the ice. That’s exactly what we have to show against the Finns and in the rest of the tournament.”
Captain Marcel Goc blows the same horn. The striker is particularly concerned that his team performs as a unit. “The collective decides. If we stand compactly and allow little, then that's half the battle. The Finns are strong both in terms of running and technology. This means that we should give them as little space as possible. Everyone has to work for each other.”
At least the dress rehearsal gives hope. The 2-1 win in Switzerland more than a week ago was also important for the head, the players emphasized. Patrick Hager: “So we were able to travel to South Korea with a good feeling. In Switzerland you don't just win like that. We’ve already shown there that we’re ready.”
Sturm will be happy to hear the words of his players, but at night it is important that the instructions are implemented. Because there's hardly any time to catch your breath, because just one day later there's the next big game against Sweden. Two games that will certainly demand everything from the German selection.
The mode
We only count at the end anyway. Only the group win or the best points account of the three runners-up leads directly to the quarter-finals, everything else leads to a playoff for the remaining places. Germany could therefore qualify for the knockout phase despite three defeats in the preliminary round.
TV dates
They can do it almost around the clock Fans Enjoy your favorite sport at Eurosport. All 48 games will be broadcast live, up to six games per day. Eurosport 1 and TLC broadcast the most exciting games on free TV, including the matches of the German national ice hockey team. All other games are available either on Eurosport 2 or online on the Eurosport digital offerings in the Eurosport Player (with a 5-day free trial period).
The Schedule
Thursday 4:00 a.m. Eurosport2 / 04:10 a.m. online “Sportschau 2”
Friday 13:00 p.m. Eurosport2 men's preliminary round / 13:10 p.m. ZDF “Olympia 2”
Sunday 4:00 a.m. Eurosport2 men's preliminary round
There is more information here:
Eurosport: https://www.eurosport.de/tvschedule.shtml