Manuel Chávez
Dailysports's expert
Switzerland
Germany
The Ice Hockey World Championship is gaining momentum as the teams battle it out in the group stage. Here’s my forecast for the Switzerland vs Germany clash—who will come out on top this time?
Switzerland
The Swiss arrive at this tournament as the reigning world vice-champions, making them a side to be reckoned with. They kicked off with a thriller against strong Czech opposition, leading 2-0 and then 4-3, but ultimately fell 4-5 in overtime. In their second game, they managed to overcome one of the hosts, Denmark, 5-2, although the Danes provided stiff resistance for two periods.
In their third outing, Switzerland defeated Team USA 3-0—a convincing result, though it’s worth noting that the Americans once again brought a youthful squad lacking in consistency. The Swiss currently sit third in their group, but a win in this fixture could see them climb higher.
Germany
Germany has enjoyed a spectacular start, winning all three of their games with a combined goal difference of 15-4. This impressive run was aided by a favorable schedule, as they were favorites in every matchup and proved it decisively on the ice. They opened with a 6-1 demolition of Hungary, then beat Kazakhstan 4-1, and capped it with a 5-2 victory over Norway.
The roster is made up mostly of players from European clubs, though there are also some NHL representatives. Star forward Leon Draisaitl won’t be suiting up for Germany, as he continues his Stanley Cup pursuit with Edmonton. Their chances of advancing from the group are strong, and the team’s confidence should be high.
Match facts
- Switzerland is averaging 4 goals per game at this tournament and has not lost in regulation.
- Germany is averaging 5 goals per match and remains undefeated in the championship.
- Here are the odds for this matchup: W1 – 1.67, Draw – 4.45, W2 – 4.15.
Head-to-head
The teams have a rich history of direct encounters, often trading victories. Their last meeting came at the 2024 World Championship, where Switzerland triumphed in the quarterfinals with a 3-1 win.
Prediction
On paper, Switzerland are the favorites, but Germany is riding a wave of momentum, so this should be a fascinating contest. Germany will face a different level of opposition compared to their previous games, which were relatively comfortable. I agree with the bookmakers and am backing a straight win for Switzerland.
