PARIS (EuroBasket 2013/FIBA Basketball World Cup) – EuroBasket title hopefuls France can expect some hard clashes in the build-up to the Final Round with warm-up games scheduled against some of Europe's heavyweights.

Among the sides the men will face are Spain, Greece and Serbia.

The men will also take on Finland, Germany, Croatia, Georgia and EuroBasket hosts Slovenia.

"It is a preparation that we could draw up with Patrick Beesley (Director France team) with reference to what we had done two years ago, before the European Championship in Lithuania," France coach Vincent Collet said.

"This preparation is long and dense, with games against very strong opponents and rises to Slovenia.

"The Strasbourg tournament will be a very high level and the double confrontation against the Spanish and then against Slovenia at the end of the preparation goes in this direction.

"I am also very pleased to achieve most of our preparation in France."

The French will have home warm-up games in Pau, Strasbourg, Antibes and a yet-to-be announced city for the second of two clashes with Spain.

On the road, France will have games against Germany, Spain and Slovenia.

The president of the French Basketball Federation, Jean-Pierre Siutat, said: "The idea is to increase the visibility of the France squad and allow the public to see French players who play throughout the season in foreign leagues.

"The Euro Tour 2013 will also be the opportunity to play for the first time international matches in the new Antibes venue."

France will compete in Group A at the EuroBasket against Germany, Belgium, Ukraine, Israel and Great Britain.

The 24-team tournament serves as a qualifying event for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

France preparations for EuroBasket 2013 in Slovenia:

22- 23 July, INSEP, Paris

25 July to 2 August, Pau

2 August, France v Finland

6 August, Germany v France (in Germany)

8-11 August, Strasbourg

9 August, France v Germany

10 August, France v Croatia

11 August, France v Greece

13-17 August, Antibes

15 August, France v Serbia

17 August, France v Georgia

23 August, Spain v France (in Spain)

26 August, France v Spain (French location TBD)

27-29 August, Paris

31 August to 3 September, Slovenia

31 August, Slovenia v France

FIBA