Serbia, France wary ahead of semi

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Friday's FIBA Basketball World Cup semi-final will pit France against Serbia in Madrid, with Team USA awaiting the winner in the decider.

France produced one of the shocks of the tournament en route to the semis, upstaging host nation Spain in the quarter-finals, while Serbia routed Brazil.

Both nations have defied the odds to make it through to the final four, France especially when you consider the quality missing from their roster.

San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker and Chicago Bulls centre Joakim Noah opted to sit out the world championships in Spain.

However, the likes of Boris Diaw, Nicolas Batum, Thomas Heurtel and Rudy Gobert have stepped up to the plate as France came from third in Group A to reach the semis.

Diaw - Parker's team-mate in San Antonio - had a team-high 15 points against the Spaniards, while Heurtel chipped in with 13 of his own.

"They are the European champions, so we have to play our best to have a chance to win the game," said Djordjevic.

"They showed that they can play without Tony Parker. And that they can really touch the stars."

Friday's meeting in the Spanish capital will be the second clash between France and Serbia at the tournament thus far.

France took the honours in the group stage, edging Serbia 74-73 as Djordjevic's men finished fourth.

Though France coach Collet is taking nothing away from that game.

"You cannot compare this game to that one. Both teams are better. They improved, we improved," he said.

Starters Milos Teodosic, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Nenad Krstic have all performed admirably for the Serbs, with their dominant display against Brazil the pick of the bunch.

Teodosic top-scored with 23 points, while Bogdanovic and Krstic added 22 points between them.

However, the biggest concern for France and Collet is complacency.

Collet is determined to keep his side grounded after eliminating Spain, who were tipped to challenge USA for the title.

"It could be a problem. That's my main concern. We have to make everybody understand to do it one time doesn't mean you will do it every time," Collet said.

"The main concern for us is to be the same and be consistent and be serious and not dream."

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