DEB team loses to Austria: Drama at the Germany Cup 2025

DEB team loses to Austria: Drama at the Germany Cup 2025

On November 9, 2025, the ice hockey world was a guest in Landshut when the German national ice hockey team took to the ice against Austria as part of the Germany Cup. But the German selection had to accept a bitter defeat with 2:5. The game took place in front of 4,200 spectators in the sold-out Fanatec Arena, where not only the men but also the women showed off their talents on the ice. Grizzlys reported that the successful 4-1 win against Latvia the day before had raised expectations, but Austria presented themselves as extremely strong.

From the start, the Austrians showed that they were willing to take the matter seriously. The first penalty was imposed on Phillip Sinn after just five seconds. With the first power play, Vinzenz Rohrer scored the first goal for Austria, while the German team tried to reorient itself. In the middle section, captain Moritz Müller was able to equalize in the 30th minute, but just 140 seconds later Lukas Haudum gave the Austrians the lead again. Kicker emphasizes that these constant setbacks visibly demoralized the DEB team.

A game full of twists

Austria's dominance was evident in the final third. Dustin Strahlmeier, who guarded the goal today and replaced Mathias Niederberger, had to accept three more goals after the Germans lost a goal. Leon Wallner and Rohrer again as well as Dominic Zwerger ensured that the game was decided 5-1 before Philipp Preto made it 2-5 shortly before the end. Despite the numerical superiority and the hope of a win, it was not easy for Harry Kreis, the national coach, to ignore his team's lack of willingness to run and the lack of pressure in the forecheck.

The German team made four changes to the lineup to replace the injured Dominik Kahun and Lukas Kälble. Danjo Leonhardt and Maximilian Kastner were able to enjoy their first tournament appearances in the attack. However, the question remains whether the momentum from the first game can be carried into the second. Next Sunday is the last group game against Slovakia, in which the DEB team would like to keep its options open for the title hunt.

Tournament course and outlook

The 36th Germany Cup will take place until November 9, 2025 and will be attended by Latvia, Austria and Slovakia. According to Deutschland Cup Online, the form of the game will be played in international mode. All national teams will compete again in an exciting final tomorrow, with Sunday also playing an important role. This time the Germany Cup will be held in a special constellation and those responsible, including the DEB and the city of Landshut, are happy to be able to support such an event.

The league lead remains contested after the second matchday, and although the German team now needs a win to still have a chance of winning the title, the atmosphere remains optimistic. The fans are looking forward to the next meeting, whether on the ice or behind the screen on MagentaSport, where the match will be broadcast live and free of charge. With the right changes and a tactical realignment, the DEB team could perhaps still cause a surprise.