After starting the Milan Cortina Olympics 4-2, the U.S. men's curling team finishes round-robin play with three straight losses.

Wednesday's came at the worst time. In a match against Great Britain, the team they were tied with for fifth in the standings, Team USA needed a win to put their semifinals hopes in their own hands. But Great Britain never let the Americans have any chance, and they left with a 9-2 win.

With the loss, Danny Casper's U.S. team finishes round-robin play 4-5 and sixth in the standings. They still have a chance of moving to the semifinals, but now need a lot of help from other teams in the final session of play on Thursday morning. They would own the tiebreak if all of Italy, Norway, and Germany lose.

Casper and Luc Violette summed up their time in Cortina, and said they're hopeful their time on the ice isn't done yet.

"We're grateful to be here and to have had this experience. It's earned," Casper said. "We worked hard for years together, and it's cool to have it all culminate in such a big event and big atmosphere. Obviously, we want more, and hopefully that ride continues, so we'll see." 

"That's the hope. It's been an incredible week here," Violette said. "It feels more like days. It feels like we just got here. Everyone says it, but it does really go by quick, but I think we've done a good job embracing every moment of it and have a lot of really great memories no matter what happens going forward."

Great Britain built a 6-0 lead after four ends on Wednesday without ever having the hammer. Bruce Mouat's team stole a single point in each of the first and second ends, and took control in the third. Mouat removed the American's lone rock in the house with his final throw, but left the button open for a draw attempt by Team USA. Casper had the right line, but way too much weight on the throw, sending it through the house for a steal of four more by Team GB.

"I mean, in a lot of places," Casper said when asked where his team struggled most. "We couldn't really string anything together. Obviously, I was struggling myself and kind of let the game get out of hand with missing four points, and after that I tried to get creative and come back, but it's a pretty tall order after that. I just tried to go out there and keep throwing shots knowing that maybe there's still a game to be played and trying to enjoy it."

The Americans' only points came after they scored two in the fifth. But the pair didn't matter, as Mouat eliminated the U.S.'s only rock on his hammer throw in the sixth to give his team three more and its final seven-point lead.

Casper and Co. conceded the final four ends.

"They're an incredible team," Violette said. "One that we knew no matter what the circumstance was or where you're playing them they're a very tough team to play against. But they're respectable opponents and were great guys, so always a good battle there... I'm quite frankly, really proud of how we started the game. We went out there, threw two good draw shots, and they got a really great opportunities in the first ends and we just couldn't make the right guesses on the conditions."

"Our objective was just to make sure we focus what we had to do in there," said Team GB's Grant Hardie. "Apart from the scary first end, we were pretty dominant after that, and it was great to get finished."

Team GB came into Wednesday's round-robin finale following three straight losses after starting the tournament 4-1. Mouat's team is the defending Olympic silver medalists and 2025 world champions.

They now finish round-robin play 5-4 and are currently third in the standings, but will also need help to clinch a playoff spot. Wins by both Italy and Norway on Thursday would eliminate Great Britain on a tiebreak.

"It's a horrible spot to be in," Hardie said. "I think everyone who plays curling has been in it before, so nothing we can do but go and talk about how we can be there if we get a chance in the semi, and hopefully take that chance and come together."

The men's curling semifinals will be played on Thursday at 1:05 p.m. ET.

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Other men's curling games played on Wednesday...

Italy was unable to clinch its spot in the semifinals following a seven-end loss to Canada in their penultimate match of round-robin play. 

Canada, which had already clinched its playoff berth with a win on Tuesday, scored all of their points in four straight ends. They scored two in the fourth to cut into Italy's lead, 3-2.

Brad Jacob's team added a steal of one in the fifth, and put the game away in the sixth. With his team already sitting three, Jacobs drew a second rock to the button to make it four in a heavily guarded house. Joel Retornaz had a difficult shot with the hammer, and couldn't get his rock by the guard, allowing the Canadians to steal four more for a 7-3 lead.

The Canadians added another steal of one for good measure in the seventh, and Italy conceded to rest of the contest.

Italy (4-4) is now in a must-win situation for their final round-robin game. They'll take on top ranked Switzerland at 3:05 a.m. ET on Thursday.

Canada (7-1) will also finish round-robin play at the same time on Thursday against Norway.

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Switzerland stayed unbeaten and hurt Norway's semifinal chances with a decisive victory over the Norwegians on Wednesday.

Already holding a 6-4 lead in the eighth, the Swiss put the game away with four points in the eighth, forcing a concession of the final two ends.

Norway shot just 57 percent on takeout attempts, while Switzerland shot 84 percent. 

Both teams will finish round-robin play at 3:05 a.m. ET on Thursday. Switzlerand (8-0), who has already clinched a spot in the semifinals, will play Italy, and Norway (4-4) will face Canada. Norway needs to win for a chance at moving on to the playoffs.

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Czechia scored two in the eighth and stole a single in the ninth, forcing China to concede the final end for a five-point win.

China outshot Czechia, 89-79 percent on draw attempts, but Czechia was better on takeouts (80-73 percent) and finished with two stolen points over two stolen ends.

Both teams are now 2-6 overall, and will finish their time in Cortina on Thursday. Czechia will face Sweden and China will take on Germany.

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