The final men's pool matches took place at the Inline World Championships in Italy today ©World Skate

France’s bid to retain the men's title at the Inline Hockey World Championships in Asiago is looking strong after they earned a quarter-final place by finishing top of their qualifying group today.

The French, who claimed their first-ever senior global crown with victory in Nanjing in China last year, finished their Pool A campaign with a 5-1 win over Canada in this World Skate event at the Italian township's Hodegart Arena.

Their opponents on Thursday (July 26) will be the winner of tomorrow’s match between Colombia and the earlier victor of the match between the sides who topped Pools D and E, Argentina and Sweden.

On the other side of the draw the Czech Republic, five times champions, also await quarter-final opponents at their leisure tomorrow, with the winners of Pool C and F, respectively the United States and Japan, playing off to meet Latvia tomorrow evening for the right to go through.

The Czech team rounded off their Pool B campaign with a 3-0 win over Italy.

In the other two quarter-finals on Thursday, Switzerland, 6-1 winners against Latvia today, will meet Spain, who beat Colombia 3-0, and Canada will meet Italy.