World Cup fairy tale continues – the Germans show what would have been possible for the Nati – sport

When it comes to mentality, the Germans are in a class of their own. The DEB selection has had the knife on its neck for 6 games. Now she is in the World Cup final.

After 3 group games Germany was on May 15th – what felt like an eternity – with 0 points. 6 games and 12 days later, Switzerland’s big neighbor is in the World Cup final. It’s a hockey fairytale that was unimaginable for everyone. Just not for the 25 players and the coaching team.

For almost 2 weeks it has been said: Losing forbidden

After the 3rd defeat on May 15th, it was clear: If Germany still wants to reach the quarter-finals, it will have to win a lot from now on. The “knockout phase” for the DEB selection started with the 4th group game. At the end of the preliminary round, head coach Harold Kreis’s team had 12 points. The knife was always on the neck, but time after time the Germans managed to free themselves.

With this “all or nothing” attitude – they know nothing else now – Germany also made it into the quarter-finals. On the other hand, the Nati, who allowed themselves to end the preliminary round as an early group winner.

In terms of play, Switzerland may be better than the Germans. But the difference in mentality between the two teams was much greater than when it came to shooting, passing or skating. And Germany was far superior there.

Also resurrected in the semifinals

Since Saturday evening, the Germans have a World Cup medal for sure – the first in 70 years. In the semi-final against the USA, it didn’t look like a continuation of the German fairy tale at all. After less than 4 minutes it was already 0:2.

But no matter how great the resistance, this German selection finds a way back on the road to success. Anything else would not fit the history of Germany at the 2023 World Cup. The secret of success? Bern’s Dominik Kahun knows it very well: “I don’t think that any team in this tournament has such a team spirit as we do. We believe in ourselves. Until the end.”

Master at overcoming adversity

The Germans had their backs to the wall for pretty much the entire semi-final against the USA. In the end, however, it’s again the black-red-golden who can celebrate – for the 6th time in a row in an all-or-nothing game. And look again closely at Frederik Tiffels’ overtime winner: If that’s not sheer determination, then what is?

Germany’s World Cup fairy tale is a blessing for any neutral sports fan. For us Swiss, however, it also has a stale aftertaste, because it shows how much could have been possible for the national team at this World Cup, with this World Cup squad.