The United States will open the defense of their Olympic men's basketball title against France on July 29 at the London Games. The world champion meets Argentina, the team that beat it in the 2004 Athens Games semifinals on its way to the gold medal, in its final game in Group A which also includes Tunisia. European champion Spain, which lost the 2008 Games final in Beijing to the US, is in Group B with hosts Britain, Australia, China and Brazil following Monday's draw at the Brazilian Olympic Committee headquarters. “I think it's great, yes, really tough games to start with,” Joanna Sutherland, London 2012 competition manager for basketball, said, referring to the US-France game. The three places still up for grabs in the 12-team tournament at the July 27-Aug. 12 Olympics will be decided at a qualifying tournament in Caracas from June 2-8. The US women's team, looking for its fifth consecutive gold medal, were drawn with China, Angola and three teams that will emerge from a qualifying tournament in Turkey to be played from June 25 to July 1. The other group so far has Australia, runner-up at the last three Games, Russia, Britain and Brazil. The draw: Men: Group A: United States, France, Argentina, Tunisia, qualifier, qualifier. Group B: Spain, Australia, Brazil, China, Great Britain, qualifier. First four from each group qualify for quarterfinals. Final three countries to be decided at final qualifying competition in Venezuela from July 2-8. Women: Group A: United States, China, Angola, qualifier, qualifier, qualifier. Group B: Australia, Brazil, Great Britain, Russia, qualifier, qualifier. First four from each group qualify for quarter-finals. Five remaining qualifiers to be decided at tournament in Ankara from June 25-July 1.
