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Germany seek their own ‘Miracle on Ice’ against Russians

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Gangneung, South Korea: Nearly 40 years after the United States stunned the Soviet Union in the 1980 Miracle on Ice, a gritty German squad is trying for their own “Wunder auf Eis” at the Pyeongchang Olympics.


Germany will face the Olympic Athletes from Russia, trying to end a 26-year gold drought, in Sunday’s gold medal men’s hockey final after three shocking one-goal playoff upsets, including a 4-3 semi-final ouster of Canada.


“Half the team just cried on the ice because we just made history,” German forward Dominik Kahun said. “It’s unbelievable. It just shows what kind of team we have. We play for each other.”


It sets up a fairy-tale story not unlike the US collegians who dethroned the Soviet juggernaut in Lake Placid 38 years ago.


The unlikely German league all-star unit are into their first Olympic final and will face the top hockey talent outside the NHL, which unusually refused to release its players for the Olympics.


“Anything is possible,” Kahun said. “Russia is the favourite, everybody knows it, and if you lose the game, we got silver medal. We’re going to do everything to win gold, but we have no pressure so we can play our best.”— AFP


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