Edin toasts sweet victory as Sweden defend European title

The current world champions were looking to seal their fourth European title when they took on the Swiss in Esbjerg.

But it was Switzerland who opened the scoring in the game, taking two points in the first end before Sweden skip Niklas Edin replied with two in the fourth to level at 2-2.

Switzerland could only score one point in the fifth end and, when Sweden scored two points in the sixth, they had a 4-3 advantage.

Switzerland again levelled but Edin picked up another two for a 6-4 lead in the eighth after a gentle tap-back.

But the Swiss were not done, gaining two in the tenth to force an extra end with the score tied at 6-6.

However Edin held his nerve, successfully drawing his final stone inside three Swiss counters to score the one point needed for victory.

"we started the week good, then we started to struggle and we lost a couple of games and it didn't look too promising," said Edin, who was joined in the team by third Oskar Eriksson, second player Kristian Lindstroem, lead Christoffer Sundgren, supported by alternate Henrik Leek and coached by Fredrik Lindberg.

"We had to fight hard to qualify and then playing Norway, who looked almost unbeatable in that semi-final, we played a great game.

"We played a Swiss team here that made every shot in the first few ends and we were down early, but we fought hard in this game and really finished strong. I'm proud of my team and the whole crew for a terrific job.

"I thought it would be just another one if we won this year, but as it developed, struggling, almost not making the semi-finals, turning it around and winning it again back to back, I think this is one of the sweetest victories we've had so far."

With Switzerland already qualified as host nation, the seven other European teams in the line-up for the 2016 World Men's Curling Championship in Basel, Switzerland next April are Sweden, Norway, Finland, Scotland, Germany, Russia and Denmark.

Sportsbeat 2015