Martin Schindler has insisted Germany can still cause a major upset at the 2026 World Cup of Darts, even as he and teammate Ricardo Pietreczko battle significant form issues. Speaking to SID, Germany’s number one acknowledged the difficult starting position but remained defiant, declaring: “Even England, if we have a few good moments on our side, we can beat the outright favourites.”
Schindler addressed Pietreczko’s recent struggles with dartitis, a condition he admitted is hard for outsiders to understand. “I believe dartitis is really one of those things—if you’re not in it yourself, or you’ve never had it, you don’t really know how it feels,” Schindler said. He revealed that Pietreczko is working with a mental coach and has assured him he will be ready. “He gave me his trust by saying, 'Martin, by the World Cup I’ll be ready again, I’ll be fit again, and I’ll get everything sorted'.” Pietreczko showed an upturn in form in recent weeks, reaching the last 16 in Riesa as the best German player, and winning matches against Keane Barry and Charlie Manby at the last Players Championship event.
Schindler praised his teammate’s resilience, calling it “another milestone in his personality and his development.” Despite the challenges, Schindler is optimistic about the tournament, which begins Thursday evening at the Eissporthalle in Frankfurt. Germany’s first group match is against the Philippines, followed by New Zealand on Friday. “For us, the main priority is still to get through the group,” Schindler said. “And if we manage that, we will already have achieved something important.”
Schindler, who lives in Rodgau less than 30 minutes from Frankfurt, embraces the underdog role. “There is a very strange German saying, I don’t like it, but it probably fits: ‘The supposedly dead live longer.’ And I think both Ricardo and I are currently living by that.” The German duo will look to replicate their 2025 run, which included a 4-2 win over Portugal, a 4-0 win over Singapore, an 8-4 victory over England in the last 16, an 8-7 quarterfinal win over Australia, before a 1-8 semifinal loss to Northern Ireland.