BUENOS AIRES (Argentina) - Veteran Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez is not expecting to face "any easy opponents" at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China after being drawn in arguably one of the toughest groups in the 32-team tournament.

The South Americans went into Saturday's draw in Shenzhen as a top seed and ended up in Group B with Russia, Korea and Nigeria. The games will be played in Wuhan.

"Now that the draw is over, I give a lot of value to having had a good qualifying round and to have been one of the top seeds because from that onwards, we were able to get a better draw," Hernandez said. "I accept the group we’ve gotten.

"THERE ARE NO EASY OPPONENTS AND PREDICTIONS SERVE FOR VERY LITTLE. YOU HAVE TO PERFORM ON THE COURT. IT'S LIKE THAT, THERE ARE NO SECRETS."- Hernandez

"In any case, as we know, at World Cups, every game is crucial. There are no easy opponents and predictions serve for very little. You have to perform on the court. It’s like that, there are no secrets.

"We are going to prepare ourselves to be up to the standard required."

Russia were fourth at FIBA EuroBasket 2017, Korea third at the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 and Nigeria were runners-up at FIBA AfroBasket 2017.

Argentina, runners-up at FIBA AmeriCup 2017, had a terrific Americas Qualifiers campaign for the World Cup, winning 9 of 12 games.

The country has appeared at every World Cup since 1986 and nearly won the title in 2002 but lost to Yugoslavia in the Final in Indianapolis.

Four years later in Japan and Argentina almost reached the Final but lost to eventual champions Spain when Andres Nocioni missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Argentina were 11th at the tournament in 2014, when Julio Lamas was the head coach of the team.

“Our enthusiasm is very high," said Federico Susbielles, President of Argentina's Basketball Confederation (CABB). "We already know our rivals and where we’ll play. We’re only missing a few details to announce our preparation for the Word Cup. I think we can do a good job. I fully trust our team and Sergio Hernandez, a coach with experience, ability and leadership."

FIBA