FIBA Basketball World Cup cohost Japan must raise its level of play against "difficult" Group E opponents Australia, Germany and Finland, men's national team head coach Tom Hovasse said following Saturday's draw for the tournament.
Japan, which hosted on its own in 2006, is cohosting the Aug. 25 to Sept. 10 World Cup with the Philippines and Indonesia.
The 32 qualifying teams were divided into eight groups in the draw conducted by former Argentina star Luis Scola and German basketball icon Dirk Nowitzki at Manila's Araneta Coliseum.