Düsseldorf youngster can play today / From the birches in the goal / Storm: “The opponent will be hot”
Game two for the German national ice hockey team at this year's Deutschland Cup: Today national coach Marco Sturm's team plays against Switzerland (13.30 p.m., live on SPORT1 and Telekom Sport). The outgoing coach will restructure his team in a number of positions when they meet the runner-up world champions.
One thing is certain: DEG jewel Leon Niederberger will celebrate his debut in the eagle jersey just one day after his arrival. "The last few days have been a bit unreal. I spent a short vacation in Spain until I got the call from the national coach. Now I'm standing here and I still can't really comprehend it," said the striker happily after his arrival on Friday. After a short training session, the younger brother of goalkeeper Mathias will play for the first time, just a few kilometers away from his home town.
This also applies to Danny aus den Birken, who was born in Düsseldorf. The Munich goalkeeper will be in goal against Switzerland today. Matthias Plachta and David Wolf, who were both assistant captains on Thursday, will be given a break. Daryl Boyle and Marcel Noebels will be the co-captains. It is questionable whether Moritz Müller can be used. Markus Eisenschmid, who has already left for Mannheim in ailing condition and will be examined more closely there, is certainly not there.
Sturm knows how difficult the game against the Swiss will be: “Even though we have always been able to win narrowly in recent years, Switzerland has now made a huge leap. She is vice world champion and for good reasons. The opponent will be hot,” says the 40-year-old coach. The Fans In any case, we can look forward to a fast and exciting game again.
About 6.000 Fans will be today's matchday Deutschland Cup Expected in 2018. After the German national team's appearance, Russia and Slovakia meet in the second game of the day (17.00 p.m., live on Telekom Sport). Tickets are available at the KönigPALAST box office in Krefeld.