The German women's national team narrowly lost their placement game at the 2021 IIHF World Championship in Calgary, Canada on Sunday. Despite leading twice, national coach Thomas Schädler's team ultimately lost 2-3 against Russia.
Both teams started the game well and tried to give their opponents little space in their own third. The Russian team recorded 18 shots on German goalkeeper Franziska Albl's goal in the first twenty minutes. Even in the outnumbered game DEBThere were numerous options for Russia, but the German team defended confidently. On the other side of the ice they tried DEB-Selection also to advance to Russia's goal. However, Nadezhda Morozova was able to fend off the attacks.
In the second half of the game, the match between Russia and Germany remained evenly matched, but both teams picked up the pace. In the 24th minute of the game there was relief for that DEB-Team. Striker Nicola Eisenschmid gave the German team the lead for the first time with her goal thanks to sister Tanja Eisenschmid's preparatory work. But the lead didn't last long. Just three minutes later, Anna Savonna (27th) enabled the Russians to equalize 1-1 on the scoreboard. As the middle section progressed, the German women's national team had three opportunities to outnumber the score, but these remained unused. Shortly after the end of the last power play DEB-Selection Kerstin Spielberger (38th) shot the team into the lead for the second time. The Russians then made a substitution in the goalkeeper position and brought Valeria Merkusheva into the game.
The last third started out much better for Russia. Head coach Yevgeny Bobariko's team was able to equalize again in the 41st minute and a little later even took the lead in the game for the first time through Oxana Bratisheva (45th). Two more power plays from the DEB-Teams unfortunately remained unused afterwards. Shortly before the end of regular time, the German team pulled Franziska Albl out of the goal and tried with all their might to equalize, but in the end they had to admit defeat. The German women's national team finished the tournament in 8th place.
Nicola Eisenschmid was voted the best German player of the match.
National coach Thomas Schädler: "Of course we are all disappointed, but I am very proud of our team's performance on the ice. The girls gave 100 percent at all times to win this game. We were close, but it wasn't meant to be. The experiences we gained at this tournament are unique and particularly important for us. We played really good games at a high level. Games like those against Canada or Russia are the most challenging for us. If you make a mistake at a World Cup, it usually results in a goal being conceded. But it is precisely from these mistakes that we learn and can develop further for the future."
Defense attorney Rebecca Orendorz: “Today we gave everything as a team again and never stopped fighting for victory. It hurts to lose a game this way. It is important that we focus together as a team on the next step in November.”
World Cup Schedule Group B (Calgary)
Aug 21.08.2021, 12 | 00:20 p.m. (00:XNUMX p.m.) | Germany – Hungary 3:0 (2:0, 0:0, 1:0)
Aug 23.08.2021, 12 | 00:20 p.m. (00:XNUMX p.m.) | Germany – Denmark 3:1 (1:0, 2:0, 0:1)
Aug 25.08.2021, 16 | 00:00 (00:1 +XNUMX) | Czech Republic - Germany 2:0 (0:0, 1:0, 1:0)
Aug 26.08.2021, 19 | 30:03 p.m. (30:1 +XNUMX) | Japan – Germany 2:1 (0:1, 2:0, 0:0)
World Cup quarterfinals
Aug 28.08.2021, 17 | 00:01 p.m. (00:1 +XNUMX) | Canada – Germany 7:0 (3:0, 2:0, 2:0)
Placement game ranks 5-8
Aug 29.08.2021, 13 | 00:21 (00:XNUMX) | Russia – Germany 3:2 (0:0, 1:2, 2:0)