SRB - Ivkovic wants hard games

LONDON (EuroBasket 2011) - The worst thing for a coach who is trying to prepare a squad for an Olympic qualifying tournament is to watch his players face out-of-form opponents.

Coaches want to see their players challenged because otherwise, when the real wars are fought in EuroBaskets or other Olympic qualifying events, teams won't be ready.

Serbia did not, according to their coach Dusan Ivkovic, have tough games at the Sportoto World Cup in Izmir at the weekend.

"The tournament was a bit weaker than the tournament in Ljubljana," said Ivkovic, whose team lost a close encounter against Germany but hammered Ukraine and Turkey.

The game against Turkey, the side that knocked Serbia out of the FIBA World Championship last year in the Semi-Finals, was particularly disappointing.

"I think this game was not particularly helpful to us, because we need strong competition and strong opponents," Ivkovic said.

Ivkovic expects Turkey to be a much stronger side once the EuroBasket gets underway.

"It seems to me that the games (in Slovenia) were more competitive than here in Izmir," he added.

Tough games should not be a problem for Serbia at this week's London Invitational Tournament.

Also taking part in the Olympic test event are Great Britain, Australia, Croatia, China and France.

The Serbians will go up against Balkans rivals Croatia - the team they edged in a thrilling game in the Eight-Finals last year in Turkey - in their first game on Tuesday.

"I hope that in this great invitation tournament to be able to play five strong games with quality opponents, which will help us to raise the level of form just before the final preparations for the European Championship in Lithuania," Ivkovic said.

FIBA