Sweden's Lag Hasselborg Advances to Final of 2025 European Curling Championship After Dramatic Semifinal

Sweden's women's curling team, Lag Hasselborg, reached the final of the 2025 European Curling Championship following a tense 7-6 semifinal win over Norway in Lojo, Finland. Despite a significant error by skip Anna Hasselborg in the eighth end that allowed Norway to briefly take the lead, the Swedish squad quickly regained control with a three-point score in the ninth end, ultimately sealing the victory in the tenth.

The match saw Sweden leading for most of the game until Hasselborg misread the ice, permitting Norway to steal two points. "I was shocked because I thought we had total control," Hasselborg reflected, describing the moment as mentally challenging. Her teammates rallied behind her, demonstrating resilience under pressure to regain the lead and secure the win. The team's performance was praised by SVT curling expert Eva Lund, who noted that Norway allowed Sweden too many opportunities.

Lag Hasselborg entered the semifinal as group winners, having won seven straight games after an initial defeat to Switzerland. The team boasts a decorated history, including European Championship gold medals in 2018 and 2019 and Olympic gold at Pyeongchang, though recent years have presented challenges. Veteran player Agnes Knochenhauer emphasized the squad's renewed form, saying they have bounced back stronger and thrive in high-pressure situations.

In the final, Sweden will face Scotland, who advanced by defeating Switzerland in their semifinal encounter. Hasselborg expressed confidence in their preparation for the upcoming match, stating that continuing their current style of play would serve them well.

On the men's side, Sweden's Niklas Edin team also secured a playoff spot by winning a critical match against Austria and will face the formidable Scottish world champions next.

With this victory, Lag Hasselborg not only continues a nine-game winning streak in the tournament but also aims to reclaim European glory following last year’s runner-up finish.