Great Britain's men followed the women into the Olympic quarter-finals as Daniel Sturridge's goal secured a 1-0 win over Uruguay at the Millennium Stadium.
And Stuart Pearce's men admirably opted not to follow the lead of those discredited badminton players by trying to engineer a result that would keep them out of Brazil's way until the final. Instead, should they come through a last-eight meeting with South Korea in Cardiff on Saturday evening, they will face the hot favourites at Old Trafford next Tuesday.
Sturridge's goal was the least they deserved from yet another encouraging display, which maintained improvement from previous matches.
At times, Britain's approach work was marvellous, with Aaron Ramsey in particular showing imperious form. It was Ramsey who flashed a first-half shot across goal, one of those that bisected the far post and the outstretched legs of Sturridge and Scott Sinclair.
Craig Bellamy, named skipper in the absence of rested Ryan Giggs, also came close to turning home Micah Richards' knock-down. The clock was ticking down towards the interval though when Joe Allen wove a neat pattern inside the Uruguay box before drilling the low cross which Sturridge prodded home from close range.
Luis Suarez ended the half throwing a piece of loose turf to the ground in disgust. The South Americans, so fancied beforehand, had been a major disappointment and this was no exception.
His mood would not have improved 10 minutes after the restart when he created space for himself deep inside the Britain box, only to be foiled by the imposing figure of Jack Butland, the teenage goalkeeper who is having such an outstanding tournament.
The 19-year-old did even better when Uruguay attacked again, this time denying Suarez with a full-length fingertip save, Edinson Cavani helping him out by belting the rebound into the sidenetting.
Source: PA
