IRI - Good preparations, mental toughness are vital for Iran

TEHRAN (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Iran are going to need all hands on deck when they compete at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup against the heavyweights of Group A.

Arsalan Kazemi, not in the squad last summer when Iran captured their third FIBA Asia Championship in the last four tries, will definitely be in Spain to play at the World Cup.

And he is excited about Iran's prospects.

"First of all, we have a great coach (Memi Becirovic) and I think the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup will be a great experience for our team before the Asian Games," he said.

"I think if our team can go into every game with full potential and no injuries, I like our chances and I'm sure we will surprise some of the teams."

In the Group Phase, Iran will take on Spain, France, Serbia, Brazil and Egypt in Granada.

Hosts Spain will have a star-studded team that includes the Gasol brothers, Marc and Pau, Juan Carlos Navarro, Jose Calderon, Ricky Rubio, recently named Euroleague MVP Sergio Rodriguez and his Real Madrid teammates Rudy Fernandez, Sergio Llull and Felipe Reyes.

The French, Serbian and Brazilian teams will also be loaded with big-name players.

"We are going to play against some great teams from Europe, Africa and South America," said Kazemi, who just helped Petrochimi win the Iranian Super League championship.

"We have to play with a lot of self belief and not get bogged down by the big names in other teams."

Kazemi, who turned 24 in April, said in remarks to FIBA Asia that Iran must be the "toughest team" at the World Cup if they want to be successful because they do not have any superstars.

He also stressed: "Preparation obviously is the biggest key for us."

Becirovic believes Kazemi, who spent much of last summer trying to make it in the NBA after wrapping up his college career with the University of Oregon, wants to show what he can do against top competition.

"This year he will be with us," the Slovenian said to FIBA.com.

"He wants to play with us on the high level stage and he'll join us."

FIBA