Three-time world champion Peja Lindholm of Sweden made two clutch shots to defeat France 6-5, while Germany subdued Finland 8-5 in tiebreaker action at the 2007 Ford World Men's Curling Championship.
Trailing 5-4 in the 10th end, Lindholm faced down certain disaster and made a lovely angle-raise takeout to lie one. French skip Thomas Dufour then missed his final attempt but was fortunate to spill a guard into the rings for shot stone.
Lindholm gathered himself again and made a winning come-around tap for the victory, which sent Scottish-born third James Dryburgh leaping into the air.
"It was a disaster almost all the way through that end," said Dryburgh. "But what a great shot, two great shots from Peja. "We weren't getting the rubs today, but we're still winning."
Dufour had a brilliant week commanding a winning French team that actually finished low in shooting percentage.
"We were pretty close," Dufour said. "They deserved to win. (Lindholm) made two amazing shots. "In the end I'm very pleased with it all, it's a little difficult right now but in two hours I know we're going to be happy."
One sheet of ice over, Germany's Andy Kapp mastered Finland's Markku Uusipaavalniemi with a workmanlike effort.
"It was good teamwork out there," said Kapp.
The Germans recovered from their final round-robin loss to Denmark, which dropped them into the tiebreakers. Had Germany won, they would have been straight through to the Page playoffs.
"We just take it more like a business these days," said Kapp. "Today we said, OK guys, its Friday, we have three games today, one Saturday and then one on Sunday."
Uusipaavalniemi, the 2006 Olympic silver medallist, struggled with his trademark hitting game.
"I was a little bit out of my heavy takeout weight," said the towering Finn, who was recently elected to the Finnish parliament.
"Maybe because I'm out of it," he said, tapping his head. "I don't know."
Finland and France notched 6.5 Olympic qualifying points for their efforts in Edmonton. The points are amassed during world championship play leading up the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.
Sweden and Germany meet Friday afternoon in another tiebreaker, with the winner battling Switzerland's Ralph Stöckli in the 3 versus 4 Page playoff game Friday evening.
The 1 versus 2 Page game will see Canada's Glenn Howard face off against Todd Birr of the United States. The Americans, who finished 8-3 in the round-robin, handed Canada (10-1) their only defeat during the week.
