LJUBLJANA (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - The 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup is just around the corner. In the lead-up to the biggest international basketball event, we take an individual look at all 24 teams.

Country: Slovenia
FIBA bwin Ranking Men: No. 13
Last participation in the FIBA Basketball World Cup: 2010 (5 wins, 4 defeats; 8th place)
Best result in the history of the FIBA Basketball World Cup: 8th Place (2010)
Result in qualifying tournament for 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup: 5th place at EuroBasket 2013 (7 wins, 4 defeats)

The pressure has eased on Slovenia in the past year.

The Slovenians, the hosts of EuroBasket 2013, sought to reach the podium for the first time at the event but eventual champions France put paid to their bid for a top-three finish in the Quarter-Finals.

Hopes and expectations at times became a burden, and Slovenia had to settle for fifth place.

Bozidar Maljkovic decided not to continue as coach and two of the country's finest-ever players, Jaka Lakovic and Bostjan Nachbar, retired from the national team.

Slovenia's World Cup squad has plenty for the fans to be enthusiastic about.

The brightest star of the national side, all-tournament selection Goran Dragic, almost led the Phoenix Suns to the 2014 NBA playoffs in the powerful Western Conference.

Dragic narrowly missed out on a spot in the All-Star Game but gained recognition as one of the best players in the league when he was named to All-NBA Third Team.

Having proved many a doubter wrong in his career, including some in his own country who never believed he'd find success in the NBA, Dragic now wants to lead Slovenia to great things.

The objective will be to finish first in World Cup Group D, in Gran Canaria, ahead of Lithuania, Australia, Mexico, Angola and Korea, and to then win games in the Round of 16 and the Quarter-Finals.

Jure Zdovc, who has returned to coach Slovenia for the second time, has a fast, exciting team that will raise eyebrows.

In addition to Dragic, there is his younger brother, Zoran.

Last year, Zoran Dragic was second on the team in scoring, rebounding and steals.

The Dragic brothers thrive in the open court and specialize in being pests on defense.

Another who is certain to be a key man this year is Edo Muric, a 22-year-old small forward who likes the uptempo style of game.

In Slovenia's 74-72 friendly triumph over Lithuania in Ljubljana just seven days before their World Cup opener against Australia, Muric had a team-high nine rebounds.

The Slovenians also have a tremendous offensive threat in Domen Lorbek, a 29-year-old guard who nailed 51.7 percent (15 of 29) of his attempts from the arc at EuroBasket 2013.

The 1.98m Lorbek first played for the senior team at EuroBasket 2007.

He excelled two years later in Poland when, with Zdovc coaching, Slovenia achieved a best-ever fourth-place at the EuroBasket.

Zdovc doesn't have Mirza Begic or Gasper Vidmar from the 2013 team, but there is mobile center Uros Slokar and active big men Jure Balazic and Miha Zupan.

If Goran Dragic is at his best and Zdovc pulls the right strings as he did in 2009, look out for Slovenia!

FIBA