FIBA U17 - USA take favorite role in Group A

KAUNAS (2012 FIBA U17 World Championship) - Reigning champions United States begin their defence of the title at the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship with a match-up against Australia while the showdown between Egypt and China could be of crucial importance.

The Americans have plenty of leaders coming back from their U16 continental title-winning team ready to pick up where their predecessors left off as the U.S. went undefeated in taking the crown in 2010 in Hamburg, Germany.

The Americans are loaded with firepower and it would be a shock if they don't reach the quarter-finals. In fact, anything but first place in the group would likely be a disappointment for coach Don Showalter's men.

On paper it would seem that France and Australia would secure top four finishes in the group as they are traditionally stronger sides.
But an upset here and there could lead to the French and Aussies to sweat out a quarter-finals spot.

The Czechs are somewhat surprisingly in Lithuania as they had a great run last summer at the U16 Euros thanks to outstanding performances from All-Tournament selections Martin Peterka and Radovan Kouril. But both will have to be superb for the Czechs to move on. Coach Petr Treml's team also face a difficult schedule in taking on France, the United States and then Australia before China and Egpyt.

The very first game day on 29 June features what could be a huge contest as Asian champions China take on African winners Egypt. Both nations would love to advance to the knock-out stage and a victory to start the tournament is almost a must as two wins could be enough to reach the last eight.

Even if some consider China more talented, Egypt have a great chance to get a victory as most of these teams know considerably little about their opponents in the early stages of the tourament. And such a victory would also be golden as far as confidence is concerned.

FIBA