RIGA (Latvia) - The FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2021 tips off on July 3 with the Group Phase in Daugavpils and Riga. The first game features France facing Korea in Group C at 11:30 am (8:30 am GMT). While every game will have meaning on the group standings - and thereby also the placement for the Knockout Phase - some contests are of particular intrigue.

Here are five must-watch games in the Game Phase:

Senegal v Japan - Group A, July 3

 
Looking at Senegal's showing at the 2019 event, the Africans may have looked disappointing, having finished 15th of 16 teams with just one victory over China. But Senegal were actually quite competitive the whole tournament: leading by 15 points with 7 minutes left before losing 66-64 to New Zealand; trailing by just one point to Canada early in the third quarter; dropping a double-overtime game against hosts Greece, and being down just four points with 7 minutes remaining in another battle with New Zealand. Four players from that Senegal team are back and they will know that the opener against Japan will likely be the least challenging with Canada and Lithuania also in their group. Senegal also have won their two U19 World Cup games versus non-Oceania Asian teams.

Puerto Rico vs Latvia Group B, July 3

 
The home team enters the competition with its first game - and that with fans - as Latvia face a tough battle with FIBA Americas side Puerto Rico. The Latvians will be lifted by the supporters but it will not be easy against a country that has shown it can be strong on the global youth stage. Puerto Rico famously finished third at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018 with both Phillip Wheeler and Diego Ortega coming to Latvia with that experience.  Ortega was also at the U19 World Cup two years ago. Puerto Rico finished sixth two years ago having lost three games by five points or fewer.

Spain v France - Group C, July 4

 
One of two all-European showdowns in the Group Phase - along with Serbia versus Latvia in Group B - Spain take on France in a battle of two powerhouses in European youth hoops. They really haven't shined that much on the U19 global stage though - Spain with only one top-four finish (fourth in 2017) since taking the title in 1999 and France only claiming two bronzes (2007 and 2019) in tournament history. But with Argentina and Korea as the other two teams in Group C, most observers would believe that the game between Spain and France - ranked third and fourth, respectively, in the FIBA World Ranking Youth Men Presented By Nike - would decide first place in the group. An added dynamic is that a couple of players will have fresh in their memory the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019 Final in which Spain’s 2003 generation beat France for the crown.

United States v Mali Group D, July 4

 
You have to imagine that Mali were not thrilled when the U19 World Cup draw came out and they saw that United States were in their same Group D. But this will not be a case of deer in the headlights of facing the mighty USA for Mali. The Africans made history two years ago by reaching the U19 World Cup Final where they lost to the Americans. Oumar Ballo and Mohamed Sidibe are both back for Mali from that team and will make sure their teammates are not in awe of the USA on their opponents' chests. Ballo and Sidibe will actually be facing the United States at a third competition after they were on the Mali team that was rolled 97-40 at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018. Also on that team were their current U19 teammates Bourama Coulibaly and Kalilou Ladji Dembele. The Americans had best be warned that this Mali team will have extra motivation facing them. Oh … and the game will be played on July 4, which of course is United States Independence Day.

Australia v United States, Group D, July 6

 
The United States v Mali game was already featured, but every game in Group D has reason to be included in a must-watch piece. And there are plenty of reasons to watch Australia v United States. One of the main reasons to watch the game is because the match-up actually surprisingly rarely happens. Even though the countries have now combined for 29 appearances in 15 editions - Australia only missed out in 2017 - the powerhouse nations have squared off just four times with both teams picking up two wins. There has only been one matchup since 2003 and none of the four games have been in a knockout stage.

FIBA