The Inline Hockey World Championships in Italy are reaching an exciting climax ©World Skate

France, bidding to retain the men's title at the Inline Hockey World Championships in Italy, will meet Colombia in tomorrow’s quarter-final.

Colombia won the right to contest that match by defeating Argentina 7-2 this evening, the latter team having earned a 2-0 win over Sweden in the previous round this morning in a World Skate tournament being shared by the Italian townships of Asiago and Roana.

The winner of the France/Colombia match are set tmeet the victors from tomorrow’s meeting of Italy and Canada.

The United States beat Latvia 2-1 today to book a quarter-final against five-time champions the Czech Republic ©World Skate
The United States beat Latvia 2-1 today to book a quarter-final against five-time champions the Czech Republic ©World Skate

On the other side of the draw, five-times champions Czech Republic, who, like France, had a rest day today, discovered their quarter-final opponents tomorrow will be the United States.

The US team secured a tight 2-1 win over Latvia, having earned that opportunity with a 7-1 victory over Japan this morning.

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 at the Hodegart Arena.