BELGRADE (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - The 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup is just around the corner. In the lead-up to the biggest international basketball event, we take an individual look at all 24 teams.

Country: Serbia
FIBA bwin Ranking Men: No. 11
Last participation in the FIBA Basketball World Cup: 2010 (6 wins, 3 defeats; 4th place)
Best result in the history of the FIBA Basketball World Cup: 4th Place (2010)
Result in qualifying tournament for 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup: 7th place at EuroBasket 2013 (6 wins, 5 defeats)

Serbia have some unfinished business to take care of at the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Four years ago in Istanbul, the national team looked as if it might reach the title game after knocking off defending champions Spain in the Quarter-Finals, and then leading hosts Turkey in the last four.

The Turks edged them, 83-82, in an overtime thriller, however, and Serbia then lost 99-88 to Lithuania in the battle for third to miss the podium.

The Serbians left the tournament on a sour note.

After narrowly qualifying for this year's World Cup with a seventh-place finish at EuroBasket 2013 in Slovenia, Serbia have undergone some important changes.

The most significant is that Aleksandar Djordjevic has replaced Dusan Ivkovic at the helm.

Another key difference is that Milos Teodosic is available after missing the EuroBasket through injury.

The point guard has had his ups and downs with Serbia since moving into the starting line-up in 2008.

His most significant contribution in 2010 was to make a long three-pointer at the buzzer to give Serbia their 92-89 win over Spain.

Teodosic's temperament has at times lets himself and his team down.

The legendary Yugoslavia playmaker Djordjevic should help him in that regard.

One of the most versatile players in the Serbia lineup is Nemanja Bjelica, a 2.09m forward who can alter games with his defense and shot-making.

Though he logged just 14 minutes in the 2010 win over Spain before fouling out, Bjelica connected on all five of his shots from the floor, including three from long range, and poured in 14 points.

Serbia should be stronger with the return of Miroslav Raduljica, a 2.13m center who last represented the country in 2009.

Raduljica enhanced his reputation in 2013-14 by winning a spot on the roster of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Though the 26-year-old did not get many minutes, he played a lot for Serbia in the build-up to the World Cup and should be a very important figure in their Group A campaign against Egypt, France, Iran, Brazil and Spain.

While many Serbians shone for the former Yugoslavia in their long, successful history in international basketball, including Djordjevic, Serbia as an independent country has yet to scale the heights.

How far will this team go at the World Cup?

Serbia were blown away by Spain, 90-60, in last year's EuroBasket Quarter-Finals.

The absences of Pau Gasol, Juan Carlos Navarro, Serge Ibaka and Felipe Reyes from the Spanish team made that result all the more difficult to stomach for Serbia.

They were strong enough mentally to grind out a win over Italy to claim seventh place and reach the World Cup.

Serbia hope to make the most of that opportunity.

FIBA