GB Curling Dream CRUSHED! Are They REALLY Out?!

Team GB's men's Curling team is teetering on the brink of an early exit from the Winter Olympics after a disappointing 9-5 defeat to Canada in Cortina. Bruce Mouat's rink, the reigning world champions, now face a do-or-die clash against the United States on Wednesday to keep their medal dreams alive.

GB Curling Dream CRUSHED! Are They REALLY Out?!

The pressure is palpable. As a long-time follower of Curling, I know these guys are capable of so much more. That silver medal in Beijing felt like just the beginning. Now, their hopes of even reaching the semi-finals are hanging by a thread.

The team, also including Hammy McMillan, has struggled to capitalize on the fine margins that define elite-level curling all week, and the trend continued against the Canadians in the picturesque Dolomites setting. It really came down to crucial shots at critical moments, with Canada displaying impressive composure when it mattered most.

"That wasn't a game where we played well, to put it mildly," vice-skip Grant Hardie bluntly told BBC Sport. "We made too many mistakes, and we're running out of time to put it right. However, I still think we can deliver the right result tomorrow and hopefully squeeze into the semis." It's honest, it's raw, and it's the kind of fighting spirit you want to see. But words only go so far, they need to translate into action on the ice.

While Mouat's team has historically enjoyed a strong record against Brad Jacobs' Canadian squad, even securing a victory in the World Championship semi-finals last spring, the Canadians clearly came out with a point to prove. They jumped out to an early 3-1 lead after three ends, putting the British team on the back foot from the get-go.

To their credit, the British team, widely considered one of the best in the world, initially bounced back. They capitalized on a slight dip in the Canadians' performance to steal two points in both the fourth and sixth ends, briefly seizing the lead with four ends remaining. You could almost feel the momentum shifting at that point.

But their fortunes dramatically reversed in the seventh end when a cruel bounce gifted Canada a pivotal three points. Mouat's team couldn't muster a response, conceding a steal and facing a daunting three-point deficit with only two ends to play – a gap that proved insurmountable. Now, their chances of improving on their silver medal from Beijing depend on factors outside their control. It's a tough position to be in, especially knowing how much hard work they've put in.

The news isn't much better for Team GB's women's team. They are also in a precarious situation and must win all their remaining games against the United States, Japan, and Italy to have a shot at the semi-finals. Buckle up folks, it's going to be a nail-biting few days!

For those of you in the UK, you can catch live streams and highlights on BBC iPlayer, with updates on BBC Radio 5 Live and live text commentary and video highlights on the BBC Sport website and app.