Croatia not only tip off Group B play against thePhilippines, but the Europeans are also seen as the slight favourites in a Sevilla group that is considered quite open.

In addition to the two opening teams, the other quartet of nations in Group B areArgentina, Greece, Puerto Rico and Senegal.

But Croatia, who finished fourth at EuroBasket 2013, go into Spain 2014 as the team expected to top Group B when it's all said and done - even among at least one of the other teams in Sevilla.

"If you look at the talent of the players on the roster I think Croatia is the top team in the group," said Argentina veteran playmaker Pablo Prigioni.

"I think they have the best team, the best players. For me, the favourites in the group."

Croatia have a lot of weapons, including Bojan Bogdanovic, Ante Tomic and Dario Saric. But there is a lot more to Jasmin Repesa's team with Roko Ukic, Oliver Lafayette, Damjen Rudez, Krunoslav Simon and Luka Zoric. The Croatians also come into the World Cup having finally gotten past the Quarter-Finals hurdle in Europe last summer.