TEL AVIV (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019) - This is the biggest year in the history of Israel basketball with the country co-hosting FIBA EuroBasket 2017 before playing in the World Cup Qualifiers.

Yes, for the first time, Israel is a host nation for a FIBA EuroBasket! Imagine what Tel Aviv is going to be like when Lithuania, Ukraine, Italy, Georgia, Germany and Israel are squaring off against each other in Group B games.

The fun won't end for Israel, though, once the EuroBasket is over. The national team will quickly have to shift gears and launch its FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers campaign in November. The country discovered on Sunday its First Round opponents will be Great Britain, European heavyweights Greece and a side that comes out of the Pre-Qualifiers.

Israel will on November 24 host a team that makes it out of the Pre-Qualifiers in its World Cup Qualifiers opener. The country is excited about the prospects.

"This (World Cup Qualifiers) draw keeps us dreaming of going to China," the Israeli Basketball Association (IBA) said. "It's a draw with which we think we can qualify.

"Obviously, Greece is the better team in the group but in Israel, we always believe we can beat any team and qualify to the Second Round.

"Then in the Second Round, we think we will get Serbia, Germany and Georgia (from Group G). We believe Serbia and Greece will qualify for the World Cup but we are in the picture all the way to qualify and this is our goal. We believe we can get to the World Cup for the first time since 1987."

Israel have plenty of talent. They showed it off at FIBA EuroBasket 2015, playing attractive, winning basketball.

Erez Edelstein's team had better remember, however, that it can't underestimate any opponent in its World Cup Qualifiers and that includes Great Britain, who beat them on opening day at FIBA EuroBasket 2013, 75-71, after overtime.

Myles Hesson, who was on that British team and had 14 points and 6 rebounds in the win, said after the World Cup Qualifiers draw: "We beat them in our last EuroBasket (2013) and it would be good to beat them again. It was a great game last time."

Hesson (right) was a protagonist in Britain's win over Israel at EuroBasket 2013

Great Britain and Israel had already scheduled a couple of pre-EuroBasket 2017 friendly games before the Draw so they will know each other very well.

"We don't take anything lightly and nothing comes easy for us," the IBA said. "We're going to play them in two scrimmage games in August and it's a good opportunity for us to get to know them."

Greece is clearly the powerhouse in the World Cup Qualifiers group, albeit one that has lost some of its luster in recent tournaments.

This is the country, remember, that pulled off a late Semi-Final comeback against France at FIBA EuroBasket 2005 before winning the title and then one year later sent shock-waves across the sport's landscape with a 101-95 upset of the United States at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Japan.

Greece finished third at FIBA EuroBasket 2009 but have not been on the podium since, though it's not been for a lack of talent. Making them more problematic in Group H is that the majority of Greece's players are on the books of European clubs and will be available for all of the World Cup Qualifiers.

Where the Brits may have caught a break in the Draw is that their first game in November will be at home against the Greeks and their next meeting with them will come in February of 2018, when NBA games are still being played.

That means in both clashes, they will not have to cope with Greece's NBA All-Star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, because he'll be playing with the Milwaukee Bucks.

"He's definitely a very skilled player and a tough match-up for anybody to guard," Hesson said.

"He had a great season in the NBA."

Hesson, who spoke about the World Cup draw in a Facebook chat organized by Great Britain, said that if his team had to face the 'Greek Freak', they would have had to treat him like any other star and "try to take him out of his comfort zone and make everything difficult for him."

Greece have a great tradition and plenty of wonderful players but right now, they have no coach. Come November, when they travel to Great Britain, they are sure to have their feet on the ground and will be raring to go. But so will the Brits.

Hesson says that when he started learning about the new system of qualifying for the FIBA Basketball World Cup, it was a little "confusing" but now, he's got a better handle on proceedings.

"It's going to be new for everybody, all the national teams, all the players," he said. "I'm just looking forward to it to being able to play that many games. It's going to be a good experience for anyone involved."

FIBA