Here's a closer look at each of the four groups in the FIBA World Championship, which gets under way Saturday in four Japanese cities:

GROUP A

Powerhouse team(s): Serbia and Montenegro and Argentina. Technically, the former won the 2002 world title (Yugoslavia, which fell apart in the 1990s because of wars, used only players from these regions of the former republic), while the latter captured Olympic gold two years later.

Don't overlook: France. Any team with talented point guard Tony Parker and versatile Boris Diaw, the NBA's Most Improved Player in 2005-06, has a shot at causing mismatch problems.

Underdog: Lebanon. The war-ravaged nation desperately needs something to cheer about.

Most exciting player: Parker. The point guard slices through the lane with the best of them.

Did you know? Former NBA standout Rony Seikaly was born in Beirut.

Quotable: "We want more. We have already made history, but we want more. We will go for more glory," said Argentine guard Juan "Pepe" Sanchez, speaking of his team's aspirations to bring more championship hardware home.

"In life I have adapted easily to different situations. It is the same on the court," declared Diaw in a recent interview.

GROUP B

Powerhouse team(s): Spain. Pau Gasol, an All-Star forward for the Memphis Grizzlies, is the leader of the this team, which is ranked fifth in FIBA's latest world rankings.

Don't overlook: Germany and New Zealand. They are ranked 13th and 16th, respectively. But both teams appear to be better than those rankings. And remember this: Dirk Nowitzki is nearly unstoppable when he finds his offensive rhythm. Replay highlights from the 2006 NBA playoffs as a reminder. New Zealand, meanwhile, finished fourth (losing to Germany) in the 2002 tourney's third-place game. That experience should help the Kiwis prepare for the upcoming games in Japan.

Underdog: Host Japan has one of the smaller lineups at worlds. What's more, none of Japan's players currently play for established pro teams overseas.

Most exciting player: Nowitzki. A 7-footer trapped in a shooting guard's body, Nowitzki has improved his defense and intensity to become a complete player.

Did you know?: Panama is the lowest-ranked nation (34th in the world) in the 24-team field.

Just a thought: If only Mariano Rivera, the New York Yankees closer extraordinaire, had a knack for knocking down 3-pointers

GROUP C

Powerhouse team(s): Lithuania and Greece. The former, an Eastern European nation, has been one of the world's most consistent teams for years. The latter won the EuroBasket 2005 title, a remarkable feat when you consider how difficult the competition is on the continent.

Don't overlook: Brazil. Leandro Barbosa and Anderson Varejao both make a living in the NBA and are incredibly gifted athletes. This team may be able to get on a March Madness-like run and knock off a few of the top teams.

Underdog: Qatar. Let's be honest, when you rattle off the locations of hoops hotbeds, this small nation in the Persian Gulf probably doesn't fit into the discussion. But Qatar is ranked 28th and placed third in its Asia Zone qualifier.

Most exciting player: Barbosa. He zooms by players on the fast break with ease. His speed is remarkable. His energy is contagious.

Did you know?: Lithuania was the third-place team at the Olympics three times in the past four tournaments. It didn't medal in 2004.

GROUP D

Powerhouse team(s): United States. Coach Mike Krzyzewski and USA Basketball's head honcho Jerry Colangelo have assembled an incredibly talented team blessed with youth, versatility, athleticism and proven leadership.

Don't overlook: Italy. Carlo Recalcati's team is loaded with versatile players.

Underdog: Slovenia. Primoz Reezec and Rasho Nesterovic know a thing or two about tough competition. They collect a paycheck in the NBA's trenches, the paint, and can knock down outside jumpers consistently. Point guard Beno Urdih of the San Antonio Spurs gives the team added punch on the outside.

Most exciting player: LeBron James. The Cleveland Cavaliers superstar is well on his way to a Hall of Fame career. Just 21, this do-it-all forward already realizes how to win games: by getting his teammates involved.

Did you know?: Turkey's Engin Atsur, a guard, plays at North Carolina State, a school that competes against Krzyzewski's Duke University in the ultra-tough Atlantic Coast Conference.