Sweden’s victory – rivals await in the semi-finals

© Andreas Hillergren / TT
Sweden’s Agnes Knuchenhauer, Anna Haselburg and Sofia Mabergs congratulate each other after a successful stonewall against South Korea.

Sweden, ready for the playoffs, actually won their last game of the regular season.

After 8-4 against South Korea, it is clear that Hasselburg’s team will face Great Britain in the semi-finals.

We can’t wait to get revenge on them, says Agnes Knuchenhauer.

Swedish Olympic gold medalists from Pyeongchang four years ago will play in the semi-finals at 13.05 Swedish time on Friday.

In the second semi-final, Switzerland and Japan meet, after eliminating the great nation Canada and losing the battle for medals.

The Sweden-Great Britain match will be a replay of the European Championship final from November when the Brits (like Scotland) won 7-4 and took the gold.

It’s a team we’ve met a few times with and know well – as friends and as curling players. And we know we have to step up and control the game to get it where we want it when we meet this team, says Agnes Knuchenhauer.

Britain’s Muirhead is also the only team in the semi-finals that Sweden has not defeated in the main round of the Olympic tournament.

The British won the regular season match 8-2.

In their last regular season game against South Korea, Hasselburg’s side returned after a rather slow start as Sweden ended up at a 0-2 deficit.

But after taking two points in the eighth round and stealing one point immediately afterwards, Sweden beat South Korea 8-4.

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