World Cham­pi­onship 2025: Austria can fulfil their quarter-final dream with a win over Latvia

They have already achieved two objectives at this World Championship: staying in the top division and recording three wins for the first time in 26 years (vs. SVK 3:2 on penalties, vs. FRA 5:2, vs. SLO 3:2 on penalties). This has opened the door to the quarter-finals, which they can now reach under their own steam.

“We now genuinely have the chance to fight Latvia for a place in the quarter-finals. It is a bonus game for us,” Head Coach Roger Bader is proud of what has already been achieved at this World Championship.

“It is an unfamiliar position for us to have such an opportunity. Internally, we knew that we wanted to achieve it. For the quarter-final dream to be alive and to achieve it with this team would be the icing on the cake. I think we deserve it after a World Championship like this. To do that, we have to go out there and beat a strong Latvian team,” adds veteran Dominique Heinrich.

Two years ago, Latvia won World Championship bronze, sending an entire country into raptures. Latvia are two points ahead of Austria in the standings. A win after 60 minutes would allow Austria to move ahead of the Latvians. Any other result would send Harijs Vitolins' team into the quarter-finals.

All of the opposition's players compete in top leagues. Like Austria with Marco Kasper, Latvia also have an NHL player in their ranks in Rodrigo Abols (Philadelphia Flyers).

“They are a top team. They have also qualified for the Olympic Games, are No. 10 in the world rankings and won bronze two years ago. You do not achieve that just like that; you need quality. They will certainly be very strong,” says Roger Bader.

The Swiss coach can certainly call on a full squad. All players are fit for the showdown, even if the six games are starting to take their toll, Dominique Heinrich says: “It is obviously very intense, but it is the same for the other teams. We are all in the same boat and when the game starts on Tuesday, there are no excuses.”

2025 IIHF ICE HOCKEY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

9–25 May 2025, Stockholm, Sweden & Herning, Denmark

Latvia vs. Austria
Tue, 20 May 2025, Avicii Arena, 12:20, live on ORF 1

Already played:

Slovenia vs. Austria 2:3 on penalties (1:1,0:0,1:1,0:0,0:1)
Sun, 18 May 2025, Avicii Arena, 16:20, 3.457
Slovenia scorers: Blaž Gregorc (10/PP1), Robert Sabolič (54)
Austria scorers: Dominic Zwerger (14), Brian Lebler (51) – Lukas Haudum, Dominic Zwerger and Benjamin Baumgartner score in the shootout.

Austria vs. France 5:2 (3:0,0:0,2:2)
Fri, 16 May 2025, Avicii Arena, 16:20, 4.873
Austria scorers:Marco Kasper (1st, 58/EN), Vinzenz Rohrer (8th), Ramon Schnetzer (16th), Peter Schneider (60/EN)
France scorers: Jordann Perret (51/PP1), Pierre-Édouard Bellemare (59/PP1)

Canada vs. Austria 5:1 (0:1,2:0,3:0)
Thu, 15 May 2025, Avicii Arena, 20:20, 5.259
Canada scorers: Nathan MacKinnon (22./PP1, 34.), Travis Konecny (49.), Will Cuylle (52.), Sidney Crosby (59.)
Austria scorer: Vinzenz Rohrer (12nd) 

Austria vs. Slovakia 3:2 n.P. (2:0,0:1,0:1,0:0,1:0)
Mon, 12 May 2025, Avicii Arena, 16:20, 4.375
Austria scorers: Peter Schneider (8), Marco Kasper (12) – Lukas Haudum and Peter Schneider score in the penalty shoot-out.
Slovakia scorers:Samuel Honzek (27), Matúš Sukeľ (51) – Martin Chromiak scores in the penalty shoot-out.

Sweden vs. Austria 4:2 (0:0,1:1,3:1)
Sat, 10 May 2025, Avicii Arena, 16:20, 12.530
Sweden scorers: Mika Zibanejad (34th/PP1, 58nd), Jonas Brodin (58th), Alexander Wennberg (59th/EN)
Austria scorers: Benjamin Baumgartner (26th), Marco Kasper (53rd) 

Austria vs. Finland 1:2 (1:2,0:0,0:0)
Fri, 09 May 2025, Avicii Arena, 16:20, 6.822
Austria scorer: Bernd Wolf (14th)
Finland scorers: Patrik Puistola (5th), Juuso Pärssinen (8th)

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