Germany completed a shock run to their first men's Olympic hockey final by dethroning the two-time defending champions Canada 4-3 in Pyeongchang to book a gold medal showdown against Olympic Athletes from Russia.
“Travel advisory: Germans in Canada should exercise a high degree of empathy,” tweeted the German Foreign Office @GermanyDiplo.
“Be nice, don't gloat, give hugs, buy rounds of hot chocolate. Just imagine how you would feel if Canada beat us in soccer!”
Travel advisory: Germans in Canada should exercise a high degree of empathy. Be nice, don’t gloat, give hugs, buy rounds of hot chocolate.
Just imagine how you would feel if Canada beat us in soccer ?
?? ❤️ ??#CANGER @TeamD @CanadaFP @GermanyInCanada @KanadaBotschaft pic.twitter.com/0HlHoxMA7E
— GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) February 23, 2018
“It's amazing. I can't believe it. It's like a dream. For us it's like, I don't know, best thing ever,” Germany goaltender Danny aus den Birken said after the surprise result.
“We have to realise we're playing in the final. I have to come down first to realise it.
“Who knows? If we keep fighting like this we have nothing to lose.”
The Germans, familiar with one another from world championship play, are assured of an Olympic-best result — their only prior medals being bronze in 1932 and as West Germany in 1976.
“We're just a bunch of hard-working guys who sacrifice for each other,” said German forward Patrick Hager. “It's hard to believe. It gives you goosebumps.”
Canada's nightmare defeat added to the misery of a hockey-mad nation a day after the women's team, seeking a fifth consecutive gold, lost the final to the United States in a shootout.
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