ARG - Oberto cautions Argentina public on high expectations

MADRID (FIBA World Championship) - Argentina are feeling the pressure from the public ahead of the FIBA World Championship.

The Olympic champions' 79-67 defeat by Spain in their latest friendly in Madrid, part of the Villa de Madrid quadrangular competition, has led to center Fabricio Oberto to sound a warning to the country's expectant fans ahead of the tournament in Japan.

Oberto told the Clarin newspaper: "The pressure is there. People have to understand that winning a World Championship is not easy at all.

"There are a lot of good teams. The United States always secure 70 or 80% of gold medals. In past tournaments, I think they underestimated us, but now they want revenge.

"The United States are also the favourites in this World Championship. They are very competitive.

"We know recently we have been surrounded by the words 'champion' and 'first place', but it is not easy. I'm not opening the umbrella early, I'm just realistic."

However, Oberto would be not satisfied with second place.

He said: "Before the World Championship in Indianapolis (in 2002), I would have taken that position.

"But now I wouldn't. We won't be satisfied with second place.

"We have to make the semi-finals without a doubt. To finish sixth or eighth would be a failure."

Oberto blamed a "lack of intensity" for Sunday's defeat against Spain, who have managed to beat the Olympic champions in their last five games.

But he said: "They are all warm-up games and now we're 60% ready for Japan.

"We and Spain are two very equal teams, but I know there are still a lot of things to do to get to the World Championship in good form. We were passive, not aggressive.

"We know that everybody will want to beat Argentina in Japan. And the team who beats us will go down in history for having beaten the Olympic champions."

Argentina are flying to Singapore, where they will get another chance to beat Spain in a quadrangular friendly tournament in which Serbia & Montenegro and Slovenia are also involved.

In the FIBA World Championship, Argentina will play in Group A, alongside the reigning two-time champions Serbia & Montenegro, France, Venezuela, Lebanon and Nigeria.

By PA Sport
Exclusively for FIBA