FRA – GER 4:1: France overcome brave Germany

Team France fulfilled expectations and scored two quick goals to move into the lead early on and hold on to it for a whole game. Germany in its second Wednesday game put up a brave resistance led by a great goalkeeping display of Marcus Felkel, but could not find an equalizer when being 1-2 down and ended up on a losing side.

Game 6   •   QF   •   Th 15.7.2010   •   20:00   •   Schedule and results
France	4:1	Germany
(2:1, 2:0, 0:0)
Rebuffet (T. Lefranc) - Thomas, Ostre, Charbonneau, Gregoire, Couraud, Tijou, J. Ladonne, B. Ladonne, Gabillet, J. Lefranc, Crignier, Jalinier, Guerin, Lapresa.		Felkel (Stieglitz) - Bierschenk, F. Carciola, Heinrich, S. Schlicht, A. Carciola, D. Schlicht, Brinkmann, Wertham, Christo, Wintgen.
Goals and assists: 1. B. Ladonne (Tijou), 2. J. Lefranc (Thomas), 31. Crignier (J. Lefranc), 40. Thomas (Couraud) – 16. A. Carciola
Shots: 33:14 (0:0, 0:0, 0:0). Penalties: 4:4. PP goals: 0:0. SH goals: 0:0. Referees: Rozlílek, Miller. Audience: 150.
Official game sheet (PDF)     video

Report

Both teams were encouraged earlier in the day, when Team Canada crashed out of the tournament against Team Switzerland and they knew that the winner of this clash will face Swiss team in the semifinal. France came into the game as a favorite, being undefeated in their three group games and facing a German side that has already played one game in the morning, losing 5-8 in their final Group C outing against Great Britain.

After two minutes of play, it looked like Germany will face a fate similar to the Mexico´s one in an earlier game against Czech Republic. Ladonne and Lefranc scored from close range to put French team 2-0 up with two minutes played and Germans faced an uphill struggle. However, they managed to fight their way back to the game, especially thanks to a great performance by their goalkeeper, Marcus Felkel.

Felkel kept out several hard slap-shots on French power plays and had every reason to feel tired during half time break. By that time, though, Germany was already back within a shout as Adrian Carciola´s solo effort ended with a perfect wrist-shot and a goal for an outsider. The play was pretty even from then on, with Germans forcing Terry Lefranc in French goal into many solid stops against their efforts.

Team France did not let a semi final spot slip out of their grasp, though. In 31st minute, Lefranc set up Crignier in a perfect shooting position and his shot under the crossbar was too good for Felkel – 3:1. Germany tried to pull their goalie late in the game on their power play, but Lefranc with his teammates held on and when Thomas scored an empty net goal in the final minute, French supporters could celebrate.

Author: Lukas Peroutka

Comments

Antonie Carreyn (Team France assistant coach): We have done really well in an important game, as yesterday. Our team is quite young and players have to work hard. We must try to improve game by game, now we have to concentrate on tomorrow´s semifinal.

Jesse Panek (Team Germany coach): Our today´s loss belongs to losses which are not really disappointing. French team is really strong and will finish second or third, in my opinion. We played this game without three injured experienced players, but our youngsters played well. Perhaps our opponent looked like the better team, but our play was good.