GRE - Greece seek positives as more bad news hits

ATHENS (EuroBasket) - Greece could be forgiven for wondering if they collectively walked under a ladder this summer.

Every week seems to bring news of another injury problem, another disruption to their EuroBasket preparations.

This week has been no different, with Vassilis Spanoulis the latest to be ruled out of the tournament as he needs surgery on an adductor problem. He joins Dimitris Diamantidis, Theodoros Papaloukas, Konstantinos Tsartsaris, and Loukas Mavrokefalidis on the sidelines while the team still waits to see if Nick Calathes will recover from his own problem.

It means the likes of Nikos Zisis, still in the squad, finds himself as one of a decreasing number of veterans on a young team.

But he is keeping philosophical, even though some part of his mind must be wondering who will be next - and if it might be him.

"Sport can be like this," he said. "It used to be we had no absences at all in our team for any reason - whether injuries or fatigue or other reasons. We were spoiled to have all our players available.

"This year we have lost our key players one after another. There is nothing we can do but carry on and help the younger players. We must stay positive and manage the situation."

And there are positives in the situation too, as it gives a chance for the younger players to gain experience which can only help Greece going forward.

"The younger players here will get to work here early," Zisis added. "If the others had been here it would have been quite gradual, but now they will get a chance to show how they have developed."

The injuries mean the expectations on Greece this summer have been downgraded, but Zissis insists the players are not lowering their own sights and, if anything, are ready to redouble their efforts.

"It is reasonable to change the expectations," he said. "Many believe we will do well now to get out of the group, and we know it will be tough. But all of us, young and old, should use this as an incentive to go as far as possible.

"If you look for excuses, you will not achieve anything as a team."

Zissis is at least grateful that the injuries have hit early, allowing Greece to find solutions.

"It is good for them to come now rather than later, because there is time to figure out what to do," he said. "We all know what has been written off. You don't have to be thinking, 'Wow, we don't have this or that'. We can say, 'Now we have these people, we can try for the best'."

FIBA