Canada and Australia will each try to extend their winning streaks to five games on the fifth day of preliminary games on Thursday, September 10.
Germany vs. Sweden (Group A) 10:00 a.m. (UTC/GMP +8)
? Germany boosted its tournament record to 2-2 after handing Iran a first loss at Beijing 2008 on Tuesday. In previous games, Germany defeated South Africa, and lost to Canada and Japan.
? German forward Dirk Passiwan said his team's game against Sweden is "another must-win for us if we want to qualify for the quarterfinals."
? German team coach Frits Wiegmann said his team is "planning to smash Sweden, and then to either get Great Britain or Israel in the next round."
? Sweden's loss to South Africa on Wednesday dropped its record to 1-3 in the tournament. Sweden previously won against Japan, and lost to Iran and Canada.
? Swedish forward Peter Kohlstrom said Germany is "a good team with a lot of good players, but we will take them."
Israel vs. Great Britain (Group B) 12:15 a.m. (UTC/GMP +8)
? Israel lost its second of four matches after a defeat by Australia on Wednesday. The team was already beaten Brazil and China, but lost to the United States.
? Dotan Meishar and Roei Rozenberg of Israel are among the top 10 scorers of the tournament. Meishar averages 17 points per game, while Rozenberg has 16.3 points per game and 3.8 assists per game.
? Great Britain is 3-1, after defeating Brazil on Wednesday. In its other preliminary games so far in the tournament, Team GB beat the United States and China, and lost to Australia.
? In Wednesday's victory over Brazil, forward Simon Munn had 26 points. He maintains the British team's highest point-per-game average.
South Africa vs. Japan (Group A) 1:30 p.m. (UTC/GMP +8)
? Japan dropped to 1-3 in the tournament after losing 48-75 to Canada on Wednesday. In earlier games the team defeated Germany, and lost to Sweden and Iran.
? Forward Hiroaki Kozai said Japan will study South Africa's strong points and weak points. "We will avoid their advantages and make good of their disadvantages," Kozai said. "If we win, we can see the hope to reach the top eight; if we lose, we will be eliminated."
? In Japan's game against South Africa, center Reo Fujimoto (JPN) said his team hopes to reduce the number of turnovers committed against Canada on Wednesday (15).
? Forward Richard Nortje said South Africa's victory over Sweden (their first win of the tournament) on Wednesday has the team inspired them the game against Japan. "We and Japan are ready for a big fight," Nortje said.
Canada vs. Iran (Group A) 4:15 p.m. (UTC/GMP +8)
? Canada is 4-0, having overwhelmed Japan 75-48 on Wednesday. Earlier in the tournament the defending gold medalist beat Germany, South Africa and Sweden.
? Canadian forward/guard David Durepos said Canada's strategy against Iran will be "to push hard, stay together as a team and take care of our business."
? Iran lost its first game of the tournament at the hands of Germany on Wednesday. Iran defeated South Africa, Sweden and Japan in previous games.
? Iranian forward Alireza Ahmadi said Iran "are not thinking of the victory or the loss" against Canada.
China vs. Brazil (Group B) 6:30 p.m. (UTC/GMP +8)
? China heavily lost all of their four matches to Great Britain, Israel, Australia and the United States.
? China is the worst team in points for (only 39.3 points per game) and against (84.3 points per game), field goals percentage (32.8 per cent per game) and steals (3.5 steals per game).
? Brazil's loss to Great Britain on Wednesday dropped its tournament record to 0-4.
? Brazil and China are the only winless teams in the Men's tournament.
United States v Australia (Group B) 8:45 p.m. (UTC/GMP +8)
? The US team recovered fast from its Tuesday loss to Great Britain, and has accumulated three wins, over Israel, Brazil and China.
? The United States averages the largest amount of points for (77.4 per game) and against (46.5). Paul Schulte averages 14.3 points per game, while teammate Jeff Glasbrenner averages 12.5 points per game.
? Australia's win over Israel on Wednesday makes the team 4-0 thus far in the tournament.
? Aussie center and team captain Brad Ness said Australia is ready for the US team. "They're going to come out with their swagger and we're going to try to knock that out of them," Ness said.
(BOCOG September 11, 2008)