Audio: Belief remains strong in GB camp

HEAD coach Paul Thompson believes his Great Britain side are "knocking on the door" of the sport's top division as his side target World Championship bronze in Slovenia.

GB come up against Poland on Friday afternoon for the second year running at Division One level, having secured third place by denying the East Europeans on their home ice in Torun last year.

Thompson's young side were denied a chance of challenging for gold in Llubljana and with it promotion to the top tier of the international game to join the likes of Russia, Canada and the USA, after they were beaten 2-0 by Group B rivals Hungary on Wednesday.

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But another bronze, Thompson believes, would be further proof of how far the GB side have progressed in the last few years on limited resources.

"We are not just also-rans anymore, we are knocking on the door of the top pool," said Thompson.

To listen to Paul Thompson reflect on the tournament so far and look ahead to the Poland bronze medal clash click PLAY

"It might take another two or three years to get there but we will get there and with a squad full of homegrown players – not like in the past where 60-70 per cent of the squad was made up of Canadians who had obtained British passports.

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"If we beat Poland, it will give us our highest points total yet which is another sign of the progress we have made."

Thompson said his side were beginning to make others sit up and take notice and were, after a long period in the doldrums, now being taken seriously - with one tribute coming from Ted Sator, coach of Hungary.

"Not that you want to necessarily hear it from an opposing coach, but Ted said we are the most improved side he had seen in the last four years," said Thompson.

"He was coach of Slovenia when we played them here in 2007 (when Slovenia won gold and promotion) and he admitted that their goaltender won them the game.

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To listen to Paul Thompson reflect on the tournament so far and look ahead to the Poland bronze medal clash click PLAY

"It is high praise for how far we've come but it doesn't make you feel any better because we felt we had a great chance to win."

Hungary's defeat of GB sees them go into the gold medal clash with hosts Slovenia on Friday night.