ATS
Switzerland faces Germany in the quarter-finals of the World Championship on Thursday in Ostrava (4:20 p.m.). And Patrick Fischer’s men will have to defeat their nemesis.
A feeling of déjà vu. Already written. As in 2021. As in 2023. When we say that Switzerland has a complex regarding first cousins, these are not empty words. We have to go back to 1992 and a quarter-final of the World Cup…in Prague to find any trace of the last Swiss victory in a direct elimination match against the Germans.
In 2010, Switzerland lost 1-0 in Mannheim on the grounds of the Mannschaft. In 2018, it was at the Olympics and a round of 16 lost after extra time (2-1). In 2021 in Riga, it was on penalties (3-2) and last year in the Latvian capital, Switzerland lost 3-1.
To break this glass ceiling like in 2013 and 2018, Switzerland will have to rely on the good things seen during the group stage. Against the Czechs, the Canadians and the Finns, Patrick Fischer’s players offered a convincing performance at 5 against 5. The goal of Stransky, Innala and those of the maple leaf players were all scored in numerical superiority .
She can also count on her magical trio composed of Roman Josi, Nico Hischier and Kevin Fiala. As we have seen, when the three men combine on the power play for example, it often leads to goals. In five matches, Fiala has found the net six times. But we will have to be careful with the penalties, because if the Swiss power play peaks at 32.2% success, that of the Germans exceeds 35%.
Last year, Patrick Fischer took a gamble by sending Robert Mayer in front of the net instead of Leonardo Genoni. The goalkeeper, Swiss champion with Geneva a few weeks earlier, had conceded a gag goal at the start of the match. This time, the Zug goalkeeper proved that there was no discussion. Reto Berra missed out against Austria and Akira Schmid, although victorious against the British and the Finns, does not have the experience of the seven-time Swiss champion. Basically, Switzerland has everything to do well and finally defeat the German sign.
ats
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