The Pool B goal-fest finished 13-10 and was lauded by organisers the Federation of International Bandy (FIB) who compared the score to a game of handball.

It was 8-2 to Germany at half-time at the Arena Vänersborg and although the Dutch registered eight times after the break it was not enough.

Two players scored four times each, Alexander Kolyagin for the Germans and Alexander Cras for The Netherlands.

"We don't know about something like this in bandy history, at least not in World Championships," the FIB said.

In today's other Pool B match, Norway beat United States 6-3.

Felix Callander scored a hat-trick for the Norwegians to get his side off to a winning start.

Pool B is the weaker of the two groups at the tournament with the top two sides progressing to the play-offs.

They will meet the bottom two sides from Pool A.

The top two sides in Pool A will go straight into the semi-finals where they will meet the play-off winners.

The bottom two sides in Pool B will play for seventh place.

Both pools will see action tomorrow, with holders Russia looking to recover from their day one defeat to Sweden against Kazakhstan in Pool A.

Finland, who thrashed the Kazakhs 9-0 yesterday, will meet the Swedes.

In Pool B, the US will play The Netherlands with Germany colliding with Norway.