Scottish skip Smith now smiling at Europeans

Heading into the clash Smith and co knew that nothing less than a victory would keep their semi-final dreams going. And after Russia opened the game with a single score Smith played a nose-hit for two to hand Scotland an early lead.

However, after blanking the third end, Russian Alexey Stukalskiy hit and stayed for two in the fourth to take the lead.

In the fifth end, Smith had a complete miss on a take-out attempt to give Russia a steal of one and a 4-2 lead, but Smith responded in the next end with a hit and stay for two to level the score.

Russia scored one more in the seventh end to move back into the lead at 5-4 but the Scottish break-through came in the eighth end when Smith played a double take-out that produced a score of three and a Scottish lead on 7-5.

Russia then wrecked in the eighth to give Scotland a single steal and then could only score one in the tenth to give the Scots an 8-6 victory.

"It's a good feeling," Smith said. "There's something about this team, we've got ourselves into tough situations but we always seem to be able to bounce back.

"We've been able to make some quality shots, and we need another one good game tomorrow.

"It's been just a lack of confidence that’s been the problem, but making shots just lifts the team, lifts myself.

"I'm beginning to enjoy this now, a few days ago I wasn't at all! We still just need to take it as it comes – a win against Germany tomorrow puts us in a really good position."

Scotland complete the round-robin against Germany on Thursday morning, and with just one round-robin game to come, undefeated Norway are clear and qualified.

Behind them, on five wins, are world champions Sweden, while after that five teams – Finland, Germany, Russia, Scotland and Switzerland are all on four wins.

© Sportsbeat 2015