Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Nations League match.
Canada impressed in last year’s Nations League, reaching the quarter-finals with a composed and balanced performance. Playing at home this time, they will aim to build on that run, though replicating it won’t be straightforward. Germany, by contrast, ended the previous year on a low note, bowing out of the Olympics in the quarter-finals to France and failing to even reach the knockout rounds of the Nations League.
Germany
Currently ranked 8th, Germany endured a disappointing finish to 2024, losing five of their last nine matches. They went down to France (No.2) and the USA (No.3) in five-setters and were beaten twice by Brazil (No.7) in warm-ups. In the 2024 Nations League, they earned just 15 points across 12 rounds and finished 11th, missing the play-offs entirely. Germany have lost three of their last five meetings with Canada, each time by a margin of at least eight points. However, just before the 2025 Nations League, they bounced back by winning the Silesian Cup — a friendly tournament in Katowice — with veteran Georg Grozer returning to the line-up.
Canada
Ranked 11th in the world, Canada were superb last season. They secured fifth place in the group stage, brushed Germany aside with a dominant 3:0 win, and also beat top sides like the USA and Brazil. Their run ended only in the quarter-finals, falling to Japan, who eventually lost to France in the final. They also reached the final of the Pan American Games, narrowly losing to the Americans (1:3). However, Canada will be without key players this time. Thirty-year-old Steven Maar has retired, and both Eric Loeppky and opposite hitter Arthur Szwarc are absent from the squad. Newcomers Ryan Sclater and Xander Ketrzynski — the top scorer in last season’s German league — have stepped in to fill the gap.
Germany vs Canada Prediction
Canada’s form last year was outstanding, with wins even over top-tier sides. But the current squad lacks key figures, and Germany seem to be recovering their rhythm after a rocky 2024. It’s unlikely the Canadians will repeat their dominant performance so easily this time.
