Captain Hinrichs criticizes: German hockey men miss the World Cup ticket!

Captain Hinrichs criticizes: German hockey men miss the World Cup ticket!

Berlin, Deutschland - Last Sunday the German hockey men had to swallow a bitter pill: with a 0-2 defeat against Spain in the FIH Pro League in Berlin, they missed the early qualification for the World Cup 2026. This unpleasant result is felt particularly painfully, because the men only ended the league as fourth in the table and did not manage to place themselves in the top three teams can qualify. As Süddeutsche Sometimes that the team was looking forward to Spain this week. Already on Saturday they lost 0: 3 in penalty shooting - another deep blow for the team and the supporters.

With a view of the upcoming home European Championships in Mönchengladbach in August, however, there is a bright spot: Another World Cup place is awarded there. After the defeat, captain Teo Hinrichs said that the team did not act cleverly enough, which in the end was the decisive factor. In theory, the team is strong, it finally makes the selection of top German hockey and represents the German Hockey Bund (DHB) on an international stage, such as wikipedia noted.

the ladies as a ray of hope

While the men were confronted with a clear lack of success, the women from Germany show a different tendency. They had already qualified for the World Cup as the second of the past Pro League season. In an exciting match, they were able to secure their stay in the class and won against England 4-2. Captain Lisa Nolte and Stine briefly proved once again that they can deliver in crucial moments by scoring the gates by penalty corners.

After last season, the women ended the league as seventh seventh, which they could place in front of England and India. The squad is to be nominated for the European Championship next Monday. A little success that shines all the more in the current Situation of the men.

A look into the future

The upcoming events still throw their shadows ahead. The 2026 Men’s Ice Hockey World Championships, which take place in Zurich and Friborg in Switzerland, are another highlight that makes the fans listen. In the current crisis of the German hockey, a bold step is needed to remain competitive in international competitions. It is also important that teams that are no longer part of the IIHF, such as Russia and Belarus, have no access to these tournaments, which gives the competition a different dimension, as on ICE HOCKOM is.

Overall, it is to be hoped that the German hockey men will pull the teachings out of these setbacks and at the next chance that the home European Championship can be presented better. German hockey has a proud story and now has to build on to return to the front rows.