The United States overcame Germany 85-65 here on Wednesday to set up a clash with European champion Greece in the semifinals of the 2006 World Men's Basketball Championship.
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced in Saitama, Japan, on Tuesday that 12 teams from throughout the world would participate in a new men's Olympic qualifying tournament in July 2008 to vie for final three berths for the Beijing Olympics.
The United States broke out of a first-half slumber to beat Germany 85-65 and reach the last four of the world basketball championship on Wednesday.
European champions Greece ground out a 73-56 win over France to advance to the semi-finals of the world basketball championship on Wednesday.
Germany came into the 2006 FIBA World Championship as a team with outsider chances of winning the title - mainly because of their super star power forward Dirk Nowitzki.
Putting competitive national teams on the court is at the top of the agenda for the Basketball Federation of Montenegro, which was welcomed into the FIBA family this week.
Serkan Erdogan has been one of Turkey's bright stars in the 2006 FIBA World Championship, putting on a great display against Slovenia to lift the team to their best result in the competition of ninth place at Indianapolis four years ago.
Germany hope to use a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to knock off the United States in the quarter-finals of the 2006 FIBA World Championship while Team USA says it's not feeling pressure to grab the gold medal.
Pau Gasol stressed his Spanish team-mates have to be happy about the defensive performance they put together in their 89-67 victory over Lithuania to reach the semi-finals of the 2006 FIBA World Championship.
Australian Bob Elphinston was elected president of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) on Tuesday.
Argentina and Spain blasted their way to easy wins to set up a titanic semi-final clash at the world basketball championship on Tuesday.
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