SAN ANTONIO (FIBA World Championship) - Manu Ginobili insists Argentina are good enough to handle the pressure of being one of the favourites to win the FIBA World Championship.
In an interview with Linea de 3 magazine, the San Antonio Spurs guard shrugged off the suggestion that too much might be expected of the 2004 Olympic Champions.
"We also went to Athens (for the Olympics) as one of the favourites," he said.
"In my opinion, if you are truly good, it cannot affect you."
Argentina have been drawn in Group A alongside France, Venezuela, Lebanon, Nigeria and reigning champions Serbia & Montenegro.
Ginobili feels it is a decent draw for Argentina, but knows that advancing from the group stage will be hard work.
"It is not an easy group to get out of, but with so many teams you cannot expect it to be," he said.
"Both France and Serbia & Montenegro have a lot of talent, but the French side are a more physical team than the Serbo-Montenegrins, who have more technique.
"I don't know Venezuela, Lebanon or Nigeria very much, but we must win those three games."
Ginobili believes the winners of the tournament will be one of the United States, Spain, Serbia & Montenegro, Lithuania, France or, of course, Argentina, but expects to see some surprises in the later rounds.
"There are a lot of teams who can make it to the final rounds," he said.
"You saw that with Italy at the last Olympics.
"It will be a World Championship with a lot of talent."
PA Sport