Curling - Britain and Switzerland to battle for last playoff spot

Curling - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics - Men's Round Robin - Britain v U.S. - Gangneung Curling Center - Gangneung, South Korea - February 21, 2018 - Kyle Smith of Britain delivers a stone. REUTERS/Phil Noble

GANGNEUNG, South Korea (Reuters) - Britain were forced into a tie-breaker with Switzerland in a bid to secure a semi-final spot in the Olympic men's curling competition after being crushed 10-4 by the United States in eight ends on Wednesday.

The rout gave the American foursome third spot in the final rankings behind Sweden (7-2) and Canada (6-3) while the U.S., Britain and Switzerland all wrapped up preliminary round play on 5-4.

Curling - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics - Men's Round Robin - Britain v U.S. - Gangneung Curling Center - Gangneung, South Korea - February 21, 2018 - Kyle Smith of Britain shakes hands with Tyler George of the U.S. after losing to the U.S. REUTERS/Phil Noble

The United States secured third place with a better head-to-head record leaving Kyle Smith's British foursome to battle Peter De Cruz's Swiss rink on Thursday for the last of the coveted playoff spots.

The British foursome had looked prepared to battle leading 3-2 after four ends but then let the contest get away giving up three in the fifth and allowing the U.S. to steal four in the eighth with Smith waving the white flag.

"Just disappointing, to be honest," said Smith. "We weren't our sharpest today, didn't create enough chances when we had the last stone.

Curling - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics - Men's Round Robin - Britain v U.S. - Gangneung Curling Center - Gangneung, South Korea - February 21, 2018 - Tyler George of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Britain. REUTERS/Phil Noble

"We've still got a chance of making the Olympic semi-finals, so it's exactly the same situation as today. Win and we're in.

"I don't really see it as pressure, to be honest, these chances are what we all play for, so we'll be ready.

"It's a great chance to showcase our sport and show how we can play in those situations. We'll be coming for the Swiss."

Curling - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics - Men's Round Robin - Britain v U.S. - Gangneung Curling Center - Gangneung, South Korea - February 21, 2018 - Matt Hamilton of the U.S. delivers a stone. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Japan (4-5) missed their chance to get into the tie-break mix when they were humbled 10-4 by South Korea while Canada closed out with an 8-3 win over last place Denmark (2-7).

One semi-final is set with North American neighbours Canada and the United States facing off for a spot in the gold medal match while Sweden will take on the winner of Switzerland and Britain.

"This is what you dream about as a teenager when you are out practising and throwing rocks," U.S. vice-skip Tyler George said. "If you want to play anybody at the Olympics with medals on the line – it’s Canada.

Curling - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics - Men's Round Robin - Britain v U.S. - Gangneung Curling Center - Gangneung, South Korea - February 21, 2018 - John Shuster, his teammate Tyler George of the U.S. and Britain's Thomas Muirhead and his teammate Cameron Smith in action. REUTERS/Phil Noble

"To actually get to a game like that – man! It's amazing!

"But we’ve played these guys plenty of times. This is not a situation that we’re going to be uncomfortable in.

"They are going to come at us with everything they’ve got – but man – it’s going to be fun."

Curling - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics - Men's Round Robin - Britain v U.S. - Gangneung Curling Center - Gangneung, South Korea - February 21, 2018 - Cameron Smith, Kyle Waddell and Thomas Muirhead of Britain react after losing to the U.S. REUTERS/Phil Noble

(Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)

Curling - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics - Men's Round Robin - Britain v U.S. - Gangneung Curling Center - Gangneung, South Korea - February 21, 2018 - John Landsteiner, Tyler George, John Shuster and Matt Hamilton of the U.S. celebrate after defeating Britain. REUTERS/Phil Noble