Manu Ginobili, Argentina prepare for a pivotal matchup against France

If Argentina wins their second consecutive preliminary game, it won’t come easy.

Manu Ginobili displayed a subtle brilliance in Argentina’s win over Lithuania, compiling a well balanced line of 21 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and four steals. But Ginobili, who turned 35 on Saturday, believes 12th-ranked France will be a tough test.

“This is an excellent team, very athletic and very good on defense,”     Ginobili said. “And with a talented player like Tony Parker, who is     able to find his teammates or scoring when he wants, it will be a     tough game. But the fact that we have beaten Lithuania reassures     us and gives us some confidence. It will minimize Tony to win.”

Today’s game will be a milestone for the time-tested duo of Tony Parker and Ginobili, who have been teammates since the 2002-03 season. They have never battled each other in any basketball game, much less on a stage like London.

“… I’ve never played against him. It almost happened in 2006, but he broke his finger just before the     World Championship,” Ginobili said. “So it’ll be our first confrontation. But I have no desire to run after him. I     have neither the desire nor the legs to do that. And it’s not my job to run after him. (laughs) Seriously, it will     be very hard. He is a player so strong, he is so fast, so experienced. It will be hard.”

It’s probably going to take a lot more than foggy goggles to beat France.

So, Spurs fans, who do you think will win today’s matchup between France and Argentina?