Hockey World Cup: For these French-speaking personalities, Switzerland will win

For thirty-two years, it’s been the same refrain every time. Germany always wins in the end! After 2010, 2018, 2021 and 2023, will the Swiss finally overcome their pet peeve? Whether at the Pyeongchang Olympics six years ago or three times during the world championships, the Helvetii have each time caught their skates in the carpet at this stage of the competition against the “Mannschaft”.

It’s time for that to change. Is it finally the right time for Patrick Fischer’s players to overcome the pitfall of these quarter-finals against their first cousins? This is the question we asked a few French-speaking personalities before the actors took the stage this Thursday afternoon in Prague. All confident.

Patrice Morisod, ex-alpine ski coach, consultant: “We must stop having complexes against Germany! There are excellent players in this Swiss team which has had a good world championship so far. We saw against Canada that despite the defeat, the Swiss were level. I can see them reaching the final. If the Germans have often won in quarterfinals against us, this time that will not be the case. With our NHL reinforcements, including Fiala, Hischier and Josi, this national team is stronger. My prediction? A 3 to 1 victory.”

Jacky Delapierre (Athletissima boss): “I don’t know if I’m the right person to talk about this match but hey, I’m still going to get wet. I see this Swiss team winning but with a poor score of 3-2. If it is true that we have not beaten Germany since 1992, it is a good time to do it. If we don’t achieve it with such a strong selection, with such players on the ice, we will never achieve it!”

Chris Rivera (ex-player of GE Servette and Fribourg Gottéron, consultant): “We already had a good team last season but this time, the way we are playing, I have the feeling that we have turned a corner. The guys from NHL, Hischier, Fiala, Niederreiter and Josi are on a mission and it’s really very, very strong.

Now we have a very good level of play but we can’t just count on these reinforcements. Faced with a Germany that is going to play physical, the players in our championship will also have to do a little more and keep up the pace. We find ourselves in a bit of the same situation as in 2023 but we must not put pressure on ourselves. It’s up to Switzerland to play its game, it is clearly superior to Germany. I like this team and I hope they go all the way. With two good goalkeepers and a good defense, I can see a small score. 3 to 1 with a last Swiss goal in the empty cage.”

Daniel Rossellat, trustee of Nyon and boss of Paléo: “I find this Swiss team exciting. It’s a treat to see Fiala and Hischier play, who have a magnificent sense of goal, or Josi in defense. When I’m in Canada, I often watch the reflections of the NHL and with our reinforcements from North America it really gives beautiful colors to this national selection. If there have often been complexes in the past against Germany, they are made to be defeated.

If Switzerland has nothing to lose against stronger opponents like Canada, Sweden, the United States or Finland, by telling itself that it will give everything to achieve an exploit, there is a sort of tension once you face a team like Germany. We have the fear of losing and we lose. But I hope this year that with such players that we will pass. It would be really frustrating not to get there. So I would say 4 to 2 for Switzerland!»