SENDAI (FIBA World Championship) - Argentina center Ruben Wolkowyski admits tiredness has been a significant factor in his team`s disappointing recent performances in the lead-up to the FIBA World Championship.

The reigning Olympic champions lost three of their last four warm-up games before arriving in Japan, including two convincing defeats to Spain in the space of a week as well as an 83-64 reverse at the hands of Serbia & Montenegro in the recent Singapore Cup.

Wolkowyski puts much of Argentina`s poor form down to fatigue but still backs them to make an impression at the World Championship.

"Tiredness has been a big influence," the BC Khimki player said. "People don't know that after the game, we haven't slept and have gone straight on to train.

"We used to get up at 3am and were very tired. That has accumulated and the team are feeling it.

"However, our goal was not to play well in these warm-up tournaments, but to prepare the team to get to the World Championship in the best shape.

"We still have several things to correct, but in training, we will try to improve on them."

Wolkowyski, the former Seattle SuperSonic, added the team`s focus was now completely on France, Argentina`s opening opponents in France.

"I think (Tony) Parker is the main weapon of France, so we'll have to be careful with him," he said on www.ole.com.ar.

"We will have to put on a good defensive showing that we know we are able to do. That is more important than worrying about our rivals.

"We know the team we have and the things we can achieve.

"We've already demonstrated it so the only thing we have left is to wait for Saturday to arrive."

Wolkowyski will play in his fourth World Championship, having already featured in Toronto in 1994, Greece in 1998 and Indianapolis in 2002.

"When I played in my first World Championship, I was very nervous before the games but now I'm calmer," he added.

"Having been in three World Championships, and having lost the 2002 final and won the 2004 Olympics, that has given me a lot of experience which makes me feel calm."

As well as France, Argentina have been drawn to play two-time defending champions Serbia & Montenegro, Venezuela, Nigeria and Lebanon in Group A.

PA Sport