ISTANBUL (AP) - The knockout stage of the basketball world championship begins with a field of 16 teams and two highly anticipated matchups. The United States doesn't play until Monday against Angola. But Balkan rivals Serbia and Croatia, who fought a war in the early 1990s, play the opening game Saturday at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul. That's followed by defending champion Spain vs. Greece, two of the pre-tournament favorites. On Sunday, it's Slovenia-Australia, followed by unbeaten host Turkey against France. Russia faces New Zealand on Monday, before Lithuania plays China and Argentina meets Brazil on Tuesday. Brazil coach Ruben Magnano will face some of the same Argentine players he led to gold in the 2004 Olympics and silver in the 2002 worlds.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. |
