David Murdoch gives Great Britain a “great chance” to beat Sweden
Britain’s Olympic coach David Murdoch believes that Bruce Mouat’s rising stars have what it takes to lower five – time world champions Sweden and take a first curling gold since Rhona Martin’s “Stone of Destiny” in 2002.
Mouat sealed Saturday’s deal in Beijing with a nerve-wracking semi-final victory over the United States, but the hugely experienced Swedish shooter Niklas Edin – who denied Murdoch a medal chance in Vancouver 2010 – will prove to be another suggestion.
Mouat’s team lost to Edin’s side in the final of last year’s world championships, but beat them to take the European crown. The crucial thing was that they pushed for a 7-6 win in the round-robin stages, which helped them finish at the top of the standings, and therefore benefit from having the “hammer” – or the last stone advantage – from the first end.
UK coach David Murdoch won a silver medal in Sochi (Mike Egerton / PA)
(PA archive)
“Niklas probably has the best championship team there is, and I think you have seen in the last three Olympics that he has been close to winning every time,” said Murdoch.
“He has developed his game and many of the softer shots that make him very difficult to hit. But I feel we have the skills right now. And we have already shown that when that match comes again we have a great chance of winning it. “
Edin is the first men’s mare to win five world titles, but although he has also won medals at the last two Winter Olympics, he has not yet won gold. A former tank commander in the Swedish army, the 36-year-old acknowledged the origin of Mouat’s rival rink.
Bruce Mouat’s men’s team in curling meets Sweden in the Olympic final (Andrew Milligan / PA)
(PA Wire)
Murdoch’s own Olympic experience saw two semi-final appearances, including a painful final loss to Canada in Sochi in 2014. But he believes the changing dynamics at the big time will suit Mouat’s men, who enter the final with eight wins in a row.
“I was lucky enough to be in a couple of Olympic finals and they come with their own pressure,” Murdoch said.
“But that’s what we’ve trained for and that’s where we want to be. I think the boys just have to have a lot of confidence where they are. They play incredible curling.
“The important thing is not to think too much. If you are in good shape, you just have to trust that you will make shots. This team really believes and buys everything together. They are a really good collective unit.”
I was lucky enough to be a couple of Olympic finalists and they come with their own pressure. But that’s what we’ve been training for and that’s where we want to be. I think the boys just have to take a lot of confidence where they are. They play incredible curling
David Murdoch
Like Murdoch, leader Hammy McMillan already has an Olympic connection, with his father, also known as Hammy, skipping the men’s team at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games and winning the 1999 World Cup.
McMillan senior has been following the team’s progress from his hotel in Stranraer, and McMillan junior admitted that he was inspired to take up the sport after watching a video of his father’s title triumph.
“I was seven when my dad won the world title,” McMillan said. “I’ve seen it back and it still gives me goosebumps when I see the first ending.
“After that, I remember that I was picked up from school when he came back. I got a day off from school, so it was probably my favorite with it all then. He has always given me advice and he is one of my biggest supporters. ”