What's coming up? August 19: GROUP D

What's coming up? August 19: GROUP C

What's coming up? August 19: GROUP B

What's Coming Up? August 19: GROUP A

Japan plan to shackle Germany's Nowitzki

Japan coach Zeljko Pavlicevic knows stopping Dirk Nowitzki is a tall order for his under-sized squad, but the Croatian has a strategy to stop the seven-foot (2.13 metre) forward and his German team mates.

Spain, Germany having trouble avoiding each other

Spain and Germany may not face off until Monday at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, but neither of the favourites in Group B could avoid being asked about the other after the first days of practices in Hiroshima.

Germans put Greece blowout behind them

German national team coach Dirk Bauermann said his team has put behind them their blowout loss to Greece in the final of the Stankovic Cup, which also served as the final warmup to the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

AUS - Can the Boomers Bounce Brazil?

The Australian Boomers face their first test of the FIBA 2006 World Championships Saturday when they take on the more fancied Brazil.

Pavlicevic not sure how tense Japanese will respond

Japanese national team coach Zeljko Pavlicevic admitted Friday that his young squad was a bit tense ahead of the 2006 FIBA World Championship and that he was unsure how they would respond in the Group B opener against Germany.

ARG - Prigioni raring to go

Argentina guard Pablo Prigioni cannot wait for the Olympic champions to tip off their FIBA World Championship campaign with France on Saturday.

Favourites US shrug off Vegas odds

Being made odds-on favourites to win gold at the world basketball championship has cut little ice with a business-like United States.

France's Parker ruled out after freak injury

France have suffered a major blow to their world basketball championship hopes after NBA All Star Tony Parker was ruled out of the tournament on Friday with a freak injury.