Germany win men’s European title

Germany men beat Scotland in the Le Gruyère AOP European Curling Championships 2024 to secure their first European medal since 2008, and their first gold since 2004.

Scotland started the final with hammer and scored two by taking out a German counter. Germany skip Marc Muskatewitz responded in the second end, and after a precise draw, Germany scored three.

Germany stole a single in the third end, after Scottish skip Bruce Mouat’s unsuccessful attempt to remove the German shot stone. In the fourth, Mouat made a perfect triple take-out and Scotland scored two to tie the game, 4-4.

Scotland’s Grant Hardie © World Curling / Stephen Fisher

Germany went into the break 5-4 up after their last stone lay just centimetres closer to the button than Scotland’s.

In the sixth end, Scotland clawed back two points with a hit-and-stay, regaining the lead, 6-5. Germany made a draw for two in the seventh, bringing the score to 6-7 in their favour.

Scotland’s last stone of the eighth end brushed a guard on delivery, knocking it off course, and Germany stole a point.

In the ninth, Scotland were only able to score a single after an unsuccessful run attempt by Mouat for multiple points.

Team Germany’s Felix Messenzehl and Johannes Scheuerl © World Curling / James Roberts

In the tenth end, Germany had last stone and were leading by one, 8-7. With his last stone, Marc Muskatewitz made a perfect promotion take-out to score a single and win the title.

Johannes Scheuerl and Marc Muskatewitz celebrate their European title © World Curling / Stephen Fisher

After the game, German skip Marc Muskatewitz said, “It feels amazing, everything worked out this weekend, it’s incredible, it’s unbelievable, a little bit unreal.”

Talking about his team’s mindset going into the final, he added, “We had nothing to lose here, we knew that we would face the best team in the world, just go all in and play our best curling we can.”

The gold medal winning German team are skip Marc Muskatewitz, third Benjamin Kapp, second Felix Messenzehl and lead Johannes Scheuerl, supported by alternate Mario Trevisiol and coach Ryan Sherrard.

The silver medal winning Scottish team are skip Bruce Mouat, third Grant Hardie, second Bobby Lammie and lead Hammy McMillan, supported by alternate Kyle Waddell and coach Michael Goodfellow.