Head coach Tim Lewis was delighted with how his team played: "It was a fantastic job, and we did it as a team rather than as individuals" he said.

"We outworked them defensively, and hurt them in transition. There was some great passing tonight, and our running game is really working for us."

Britain now need to defeat a Slovak team destined to finish bottom of the second round group on Wednesday evening and hope that Austria defeat Poland in the group's final game to progress to the last four.

If Poland win by less than 31 they will accompany Austria - who are already through to the semi-finals - in the final four on a three-way tiebreaker to Lewis' dismay:

"If Poland win, that big loss against Austria will come back to haunt us" he admitted.