'It was really quiet' - Smith wants more from GB fans

Smith says GB fans need to create an atmosphere for their quarterfinal against Latvia in Riga

Great Britain will face Latvia in the quarterfinals of the World Championships on Wednesday evening looking to reach the medal round for the first time since 2018.

Ben Smith's side topped Group A with wins over Slovakia, Italy and Finland but could only draw with Belarus as they missed out on an automatic semi-final spot.

They will now play Latvia, who finished third in Group B, in the first quarterfinal. The winner will progress to the last four and a clash with either Sweden or the Czech Republic.

Smith believes home advantage could be key for Latvia

Latvia will have the backing of their home crowd in Riga and Smith wants to see a similar atmosphere from the GB fans.

"It was really quiet against Belarus and I know there weren't many British fans there," he said. "But we need to create our own atmosphere and energy. We're not going to be able to rely on the crowd to do that for us."

"We need to be the ones who are generating the noise and the passion. We need to show Latvia that we're not afraid of them and that we're here to win. It's going to be a tough game, but we're confident that we can get the job done."

GB have a good record against Latvia

GB have a good record against Latvia, having won three of their last five meetings. They also beat them in the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Championships.

However, Latvia will be confident after finishing third in Group B, with wins over Norway and Kazakhstan. They also pushed Sweden all the way in their opening game, eventually losing 2-1 in overtime.

It is sure to be a close game, but GB will be confident of their chances if they can create a good atmosphere and play to their potential.