Fiba Basketball World Cup 2019 semi-final: Spain v Australia – live!

The players are out on the courts going through some last-minute warm ups before first tip, as we gather for the national anthems.

So – to Spain, this massive powerhouse of world basketball – the last team apart from the US to taste World Cup gold.

Men to watch: NBA star Ricky Rubio is averaging 15pts a game and five assists, Marc Gasol has chimed in with 11pts and five rebounds – but in truth there’s not a poor player across this sublime Spanish roster.

Your predictions ahead of this one?

What’s really dazzled for the Boomers is the depth of their performance. Despite missing NBA stars like Ben Simmons, Jonah Bolden or Dante Exum through injury or non-availability, to a man the 12 that are fighting for the green & gold have stood tall. In one game it’s the wily veteran Dellavedova, in another it’s hot-hands Joe Ingles. The man-mountain Aron Baynes has been superb defensively (and not too shabby with the threes either), and his understudy Andrew Bogut saved his best for a ten-minute spell to blow open the Czechs in the quarters. Chris Goulding has shot well, Jock Landale has come up big at times – but above it all – Patty Mills has been imperious. Pure ice in the veins when it’s mattered most.

It’s been an incredible tournament thus far from the Boomers, and unlike some of the other pools, there’s been absolutely no easy games.

The clever Canadians 108-92, a bruising clash with Senegal 81-68, and the passionate Baltic powerhouses (and World No 6) Lithuania 87-82 just for the group.

Germany-slayers Dominican Republic 82-76, and then the big one – a pulsating 100-98 win over France courtesy a stunning steal from Patty Mills with the campaign looking 4.4 seconds away from a showdown with the US. Then of course the 82-70 win over a tough Czech Republic in the quarter-finals.

It’s been a hell of a tournament – the first time the Boomers have won 6-0 to start a campaign, but it’s all on the wire today against Spain.

Hola! Hi all, a pleasant welcome to you and yours from wherever around the globe you’re following our coverage today.

Not sure about you, but I’m absolutely buzzing about this today. What a landmark game in Australian basketball – a match Shane Heal has called the biggest ever in the nation’s history (at least in the men’s game).

If the Fiba WC has flown under your radar lately you can more than make amends by following along here. Or if you’ve been bursting at the seams with all your pent up basketball fun facts at stats we want to hear from you! Fire me an email or tweet to join the conversation.