If you play on the final day of a World Championship, you either are very good and battle for the medals - or you played different... Germany and Russia were definitely the worst teams of that tournament who now faced to play for place 9 - the looser had to be relegated to Group B for the 2008 WFC in the Czech Republic.
Germany first tried to play defensively and make some fast attacks. Though Germany endangered the Czech goal several times, they committed too many individual mistakes to stay competitive in the first period. Two goalie mistakes and a defensive turnover made the great Russian player Roman Druzinisky score thrice in the first twenty minutes, while Fredrik Holtz scored one goal for Germany by a fast break.
Germany took control of the match more and more during the end of first half and especially at the end of second, when they played with three lines. Two more Druzinisky goals raised Russia's scoreboard to five, while Fredrik Holtz succeeded in a penalty. The score was 2-5 after thirty minutes, but Russia got two bench penalties - and Germany was really effective in power play that day (though the play did not look that good...): two power play goals made it 4-5 with Germany putting enourmous pressure on Russia now. But finally, Germany just did not play clever enough in offense to score - on the other hand, they were just too vulnerable for fast breaks, which lead to the 6-4 lead for Russia in the 36th minute.
Germany could not keep up the pressure at the beginning of third half, though they tried hard. Another power play situation was given them by the Russians after a delaying of the game. Again, it was Fredrik Hartwig to raise Germany's hopes to stay in Group A - but again it was a Russian fast break to destroy their dream. Finally, even with six field players in the rink, Germany did not get the opportunities to come back in the game - and were heavily punished for committing just too many errors.