I've watched the extra end a couple of times on TSN.CA's website.  The freeze wouldn't have achieved much - it would have left an open draw to the button.

The guard was the best choice, The amount of ice taken was correct BUT the rock simply went too deep - it seems the sweepers didn't understand that line was everything, doesn't matter how deep - you've got to cover shot rock to make a take-out as tricky as possible. But the rock went too deep and therefore over-curled.

If the rock is one to two feet lighter it would have covered the shot rock perfectly. That would have made Schoep think about an in-turn draw (by the way she hadn't made one all game), a double or a soft weight come-around tap-back.

Thanks Stuart for the reply. I had thought that Eve's shot stone was pretty much in the button and that it was impossible for Germany to draw its stone any closer without attempting a takeout. That's why I wondered why Eve didn't freeze her last stone to her shot stone.

If there was room for Germany to draw even closer to the center of the button, I can understand why Eve played a guard.

Yes - front end is the lead and second.

Here in Canada It's standard practice for us to coach and execute that whilst the third and skip are deciding which shot to play and selecting their ice that the front-end are making sure the rock, hack area and the path of the rock are free from debris - by looking and cleaning with their brushes.

Actually - the two folks sweeping are looking and cleaning on every shot. It's happened many a time that my sweepers, and I am a second, will say wait a minute there's something on the ice in front of your rock.

Of course they must then check the head of their brushes to make sure they're clean - if something is on the brush head one will just risk it falling off in front of the rock when it's thrown and one sweeps.

Watch Kevin Martin's front end sometime - you'll see that they are constantly doing house cleaning.

No - not at all.

I'm saying that the sweepers should always clean up the rock, hack area  and travel path before a rock is thrown.

Then, after the rock is thrown - keep it clean - meaning a light sweep in front to remove any hidden debris in the way - always with the fabric brush not the bristle brush.

How often do you hear a call from the house - clean, clean? 

Debris can come off the body, clothing, from the brushes. These brushes may be cleaned at each end but the debris may have been pushed away from the path of the previous stone. Also the players often stand off the ice in Arena ice on the carpet. Dirt from other shoes (players, umpires, tv camera men and photograpers is carried into that area. it can be picked up and carried onto the ice. There is also the possibility of dirt coming off overhead beams ect.  thiese spects of dirt can be microscopic but enough to catch the stones running band and divert it. Often this dirt might be enlarged as it is warm and hits the ice melting a little ice and changing the surface.
All leads and seconds should have swept the ice on returning up the sheet. It should be habit and at the end of such a game absolutely essential. I dont know if they failed to do that in this case. However the skipp or third (ifthey are playing the shot) should also sweep the ice gently as they come back.

Regarding Eve's last stone. I have not looked at a replay but was her shot stone not just behind the T line on thecentral circle? Hence a freeze although in theory perfect, could be moved and along with the shot stone with a hit at the right angle. Andrea had 2 stones in on the other side of the central rings. She just needed one to win if she lost one.

I think too much has been made of Eve's pick-up. Pick-ups happen all the time...just about every game, and you have to deal with them. I'm a firm believer that you make your own luck in curling. Lets not forget that during the 10th end, Schopp had played a very aggressive end and was in a very strong position. Eve's stone picked up when she was looking for a double takeout just to lie one when she needed a two. If she had managed to get it behind the guard the double was hardly on. So the most Eve was looking for at that stage was a one (a two if she was very lucky). As it transpires, Andrea's sweepers mucked up her last stone and left a perfect plant to allow Eve back in.

Not much is said about Lyndsay Wilson's pick up on the third last stone of the 10th end of the Scottish final. She had just played a perfect draw and Kelly's last stone couldn't follow it perfectly, leaving a split for Lyndsay to set up a two with only skips stones left. Her perfectly played stone picked and caught the guard and Gail could only tie the game like Eve did. The rest is history. As is the result of the 2010 Ladies Worlds.

Dave Murdoch won last year's worlds fair and square. Blame for Norway's defeat was attributed to Ulsrud's pick-up. Come on, Norway were outplayed...end of story. A pick-up is only one shot out of 80...the 79 other shots didn't pick-up.

So please don't keep blaming a pick-up rather than congratulating Schopp and team for a brilliant performance.

Was interested in the German skips comments as quoted recently on The Curling News site.

On the Olympics:-
I wouldn’t mind if all this crap were cancelled… The Olympics are just annoying… I feel zero excitement.

On the Worlds:-
I wasn’t looking forward to the Olympics, but the whole season I was looking forward to this event. I know I’m not normal and maybe a little bit crazy and different, but that’s the way I’m feeling.
This event you play just for you. You are the main sport, you are the people where everything is all about (you). The Olympics, as a curler, you are kind of in the background.

Slightly different approach.