We feel violated.
This morning we spent some more time on the situation. Probably the most disturbing thing about it is that the national coach simply came to announce a schedule change that sends us, as the only team, to three games in a row. We are really deeply disappointed that no one from the WCF understands that this decision creates an unequal competition among the participants in the championship. In addition, the TV company that formulated the match schedule requirement is said to have played a significant role. Fair play and the health of the athletes are thus relegated to second place, in a situation where Olympic participation, prestige, reputation, maintaining the favour of sponsors and supporters and compliance with the conditions for state support are at stake. We had to end the heated debate to be able to play Wednesday's games at all. This afternoon's opponents are the Russians, an undefeated team so far. For a long time, the Russian players have presented themselves as a technically and tactically advanced team that regularly reaches the highest ranks. In the first half, we were tightening their small lead for a while, but at the break the score was even. Then the battle for the result was on. After eight ends it was tied again, but the advantage was held by the Russians. We expertly let them take a one-point lead in the ninth end, and in the tenth end we cleverly made a three-pointer to take the win. A valuable scalp after a good performance. Unfortunately, the schedule gave us the minimum time for recovery, and we are already waiting for the US team. American curling is unfairly overshadowed by Canadian curling. However, many tens of thousands of players with a branching system of competitions can always generate a quality national team of stars and stripes. And so it is this year. We started well, but after half the game we were already three points behind. Probably under the influence of mental fatigue caused by all the unpleasant circumstances, we put everything on one card in the seventh end and opted for a total offensive. However, it didn't work and we dropped a lot of points. Immediately after the lost match, we had another debate with one of the umpires about the unfair and unfortunate solution, by which the organizers sacrificed the Czech team without scruples. Unofficially, we have the full sympathy of everyone we talk to, but the schedule stands and we will play and play and play on Friday. Until we fall.
rnphoto: scoreboard after the Russia game