GERMANY TIPPED FOR SHOCK EARLY EXIT AT HOME WORLD CUP
11/06/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
MARTIN SCHINDLER and Ricardo Pietreczko face a World Cup nightmare after being tipped for a shock early exit on home soil.
Germany stunned the darting world with a run to last year’s semi-finals, including a famous 8-4 victory over tournament favourites England in Frankfurt.
But the hosts have been drawn alongside the Philippines and New Zealand in Group A and arrive at the tournament with both players enduring difficult campaigns.
World No19 Schindler has failed to reach a ProTour final or a televised quarter-final this season.
Pikachu has struggled badly, failing to qualify for five European Tour events and crashing out in the first round of five of his last six Players Championship appearances.
Former pro Matt Edgar believes the doubles format could prove particularly problematic for Pietreczko as he continues to battle dartitis.
He said on Edgar TV: “Germany have got their hands full in that group. That is a very tough group.
“It would not surprise me if Germany do not go through. Germany are 2/7 favourites to win that group.
“Now, I am not only talking about this because of the quality of the Philippines and New Zealand being dangerous customers.
“In a short-format game of pairs, I don’t think this suits Germany.
“Now we have seen this year Ricardo Pietreczko struggling with dartitis.
“With that, he has been looking at his throw, trying to find some rhythm. In pairs, you don’t have rhythm.
“In pairs, you are not away from the oche for one throw. You are away from the oche for three throws.
“That is a lot of time. Most of your time on that stage is spent watching other people throw darts rather than throwing darts.
“I think that break in rhythm could affect Ricardo Pietreczko to the point where we don’t see the best from him.”
Edgar believes any issues for Pietreczko would immediately increase the burden on Schindler.
He added: “If that is the case, Martin Schindler will be aware of that from very early on and he will know he has to do the heavy lifting, which will apply a lot of pressure to him.
“This isn’t the same Germany that beat England last year. On name it is, on form it is not.
“Martin Schindler is not in the same place as he was this time last year.”
Image by Taylor Lanning.
