Kantzouris: “Ready to claim what we all dream of – extra motivation or questioning”

His direct partner Vasilis Spanoulis; Elias Kantzourisspoke after the end of preparation and her friendly matches Nationalmaking the report before the Eurobasket premiere.

The Greek coach stood at health and availability of all players, stressed the progress shown by the team through the tests, while referring to both management of the roster as well as in expectations They exist for the “blue whites” in the event.

In detail what he said:

For conclusions after completing the friendly matches: “First of all, we achieved 100% of the first and biggest important goal of preparing, to be complete and healthy. We are completely satisfied because we are “armored” and made our choice from the available athletes with everyone healthy. So, this coaching “camp”, if we can say so, was crowned with success. The basketball conclusions we have drawn from our first day are very useful in view of the obligations that begin on Thursday. We raised various reflections on the table. We have three days ahead of us before the premiere, so Coach Spanoulis will put the last touches to be ready. We must not forget that it is a long tournament. Everything will be judged in knockout games. I think we are ready to claim what we all dream of. “

To manage the roster in group races: “We believe in ourselves. We go to Cyprus to play our basketball and go to play. To be able to win the “weapons” to win the games we need and improve during the tournament. At first we have five games in seven days. There will be quite high energy consumption and proper management must be. We feel good, we are confident and we think we are a very good team. “

For the greatest lesson in the friendly preparation: “We have seen what things we need to improve on our own function. From all the games we got something, regardless of the different compositions and conditions we had in terms of official racing obligations. We have in mind the way opponents will try to stop us. We have three more days to prepare for all scenarios. “

For the “sign” of the National: “We are a ‘hungry’ national team so that we can do what we have been chasing for 16 years. Not many words are needed, everything will look all on the pitch. What we are saying and hyperem we have to show it in the four lines. “

For the criticism of National Greece: “I personally don’t have social media. I’m probably out of season but I don’t have time to deal with them. Everyone has the right to say his opinion. We do not live in a “bubble”, most can perceive the atmosphere. There are definitely different views. In the mind of the national team it is prevalent that we are trying to go to our obligations with a clear mind. We know who we are, what to do, the small and big goals of the team. Eurobasket is a marathon. Nothing is judged on Thursday or Saturday. ‘Everything will be judged in knockout games. The controversy always creates an additional motivation. It is good to have opinions, we have democracy. Beyond that, it is very important how everyone manages it and how they can create the conditions to give the maximum individually and then for the good of the team. “

On whether there were points that the team showed its best face: “There were many good intervals, not just a minute. I can remember the game with Serbia. We had absences and we played very well and we were competitive with a team that on paper is a level above all. Also in games with Latvia, Italy, and even yesterday with France. In the first half with France, as we played, I think that our score is wrong. So, I think there was a progress. We must not overlook that we are talking about friendly games and the results do not count, they are simply offered for safe conclusions. The team has shown progress, we played with many different compositions and this is not easy. We have reached a sufficiently satisfactory level to find chemistry and shapes to go united and compact in Eurobasket. We were in several clock games. Our first and foremost goal was to keep all players healthy. The coach could not manage the game with different conditions. It is very different for the coach to know that a player can only play 15 minutes and different to have all players available for as long as you want. We all stayed healthy and we are all happy about it. “

For Greece’s goals in Eurobasket: “Just talking about the National Team of Greece and are talking about a team that has a heavy jersey, tradition and successes of the past, high expectations and increased obligations have been created. We have 16 years to climb the podium, this may seem to be weighting but it is part of what we need to manage. The small goal is Thursday’s game with Italy. The big goal is to beat the games at the intersections, something we haven’t done in previous years to reach our goal. Personally, I think it’s time to make the Greeks proud. “