The hot question after the disappointing World Cup outing: should national coach Patrick Fischer leave now?

• The performance culture Anyone who talks about medals but fails to achieve their goals will have to face the consequences at some point. In 2021, Fischer had set the goal of “semi-finals” and dismissed the quarter-finals as a “hypocritical goal” in the mothbox.
• The credibility is scrapped after losing five quarter-finals in a row (4 World Championships, 1 Olympic Games). But Fischer can’t go back, a downward adjustment of the goals would be the height of incredibility.
• The sustainability Is it time for change? Fischer has been in office since 2016, maybe it’s just time for a new face.
• The long-term perspective As for the 2026 World Cup in their own country and the Olympic Games: Because a new coach needs time to implement his ideas by then, something has to be done now.
• The goalkeeper’s coup Those who voluntarily do without Genoni in a quarterfinal against feared opponent Germany must leave.

• The quality of services (Quarter-finals excluded): The group stage is now a piece of cake, Switzerland reach the quarter-finals with ease, the national team delights the masses. Even Canada is regularly beaten. Not to forget: Fischer won a silver medal in 2018.
• Enthusiasm, courage, esprit The boring, defensive-hearted ice hockey is a thing of the past, the national team plays with guts, aggressiveness and spirit.
• The encouragement of the players Whether it’s the National League or the NHL, the stars are coming. Fischer has created a climate that suits most people. The statements of the NHL players (medal, world champion) show that Fischer hits the right note with his enthusiasm.
• The results bulletin Switzerland is 7th in the world ranking (before the World Cup) and will finish this tournament in 5th place. The semi-final is a nice goal, but Switzerland is not among the top 4.
• The long-term perspective As for the 2026 World Cup in their own country and the Olympic Games: the national team is not a club team, the coach can call up the best at any time, long-term planning is window dressing anyway. What if you change coaches now and miss the quarterfinals next year? Continuity is more important than activism, a mess is imminent.

The Board of Directors of the SIHF. Members: Michael Rindlisbacher (Chairman), Marc-Anthony Anner, Martin Affolter, Erwin Füllmann, Peter Zahner, Raeto Raffainer, Kathrin Lehmann, Stefan Volken.

“What I can say is that he is doing a great job. But everyone in the association wants to know how to win the important games.”