RIO DE JANEIRO (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - There are plenty of smiles in Brazil this week, with the country's basketball players having gathered to start getting ready for one the most important tournaments in team history.

The national squad led by coach Ruben Magnano, many firmly believe, has a legitimate shot to reach the podium at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

The Brazilians have quality, experience and a terrific coach who has proved in his career that he can help a side achieve greatness.

He steered his native Argentina to a runners-up finish at the 2002 FIBA World Championship and a gold medal two years later at the Athens Olympics.

Among the 10 players to have been confirmed in Magnano's squad to play at the World Cup is Anderson Varejao.

Missing from last year's FIBA Americas Championship squad through injury, the Cleveland Cavaliers big man will be a key man as Brazil compete in Group A against World Cup hosts Spain, France, Serbia, Iran and Egypt.

"I'm very happy, extremely motivated to have a good preparation and an excellent World Cup campaign," said Anderson.

"We have a team with great potential and it is important because we are going to face very strong opponents in the competition."

Another player back in the fold after missing last year through injury is Flamengo sharpshooter Marcus Vieira, aka Marquinhos.

"Unfortunately, I could not be part of last season because of an injury," he said.

"We know it's a tough (24-team) competition, but we want to fight for a medal.

"We have a very skilled team and great players, and a good coaching staff and the structure to have a good tournament."

Marquinhos won the FIBA Americas League and the Brazil national league with Flamengo in 2013-14.

He was in the Brazil side four years ago that nearly upset the United States in the opening round.

Tiago Splitter, Leandro Barbosa and Marcelo Machado were also missing last summer but have returned to the Brazil squad for the World Cup.

Splitter recently became the first Brazilian to win an NBA title, something he did with the San Antonio Spurs, while Machado excelled for Flamengo and has come out of international retirement to play again for Brazil.

Barbosa missed 2013 with Brazil while recovering from a serious knee injury.

All of them are excited, and the coach is, too.

"It's a special time for me," said Magnano.

"I've got the same feeling I had when we started preparing for the London Olympics.

"We need to have a great preparation to get the best possible performance in Granada (where Group A is to be played)."

At both the 2010 FIBA World Championship (last 16) and the 2012 London Games (Quarter-Finals), South American rivals Argentina ended Brazil's medal hopes.

The weakened squad that played last year crashed out of the FIBA Americas Championship in Venezuela after four successive defeats.

No one expects that to happen this time.

FIBA