While the players were able to relax and unwind, the coaching team was already preparing for the upcoming opponent
Immediately after the 6:1 win against South Korea, Marco Sturm gave his team a clear message in his obligatory post-game speech in the locker room: "Tomorrow is a day off and there will be no training." Just switch off, relax, and completely forget about ice hockey. That's exactly what the national coach told his players.
Understandable, because after long days of preparation and a tight World Cup schedule including training, the past few weeks have been very intensive for everyone involved. The players gratefully accepted the opportunity and scattered in all directions. Some explored the surrounding area by bike, others took the bus to the surrounding towns. See something different than just a hotel and ice rink.
While the players were able to enjoy their day off, the coaches got to work and devoted themselves to studying videos. Sturm and his assistants will take a close look at their upcoming opponents, Latvia, in their match against the USA this afternoon. The match against the Baltics is scheduled for 12.15:XNUMX on Saturday. "We want to take as much as possible with us," said Leon Draisaitl, setting out the goal.
Hopes of a possible quarter-final qualification were dashed yesterday when hosts Denmark managed a small sensation with a 3:2 win over Finland. This makes the starting position for the German selection much more difficult. "We only think from game to game," said Patrick Hager: "We can't influence anything else anyway."
Hager knows the situation from the last World Cup in Cologne. On the one hand, you naturally wish the Danes success at their home World Cup, but on the other hand, Hager also makes it clear: "We are all professionals and only sporting success counts." While the home team still has to play against Norway, South Korea and Latvia, the national team will face Latvia, Finland and Canada. You don't have to be an expert to know that the remaining German schedule is much tighter.