ATHENS (Greece) - Vassilis Spanoulis and his Greece national team are facing a critical final window of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers, and the head coach is excited so many top players have answered the call as they look to reach this summer's big event.
Greece enter the final games with a 3-1 record in Group F; opening the window with a road game against Czechia on Friday, February 21 and then hosting Netherlands on Monday, February 24.
Spanoulis' men would qualify for the Final Round with either a win or a Great Britain victory over Netherlands. Greece beat Czechia at home 72-64 in the first window a year ago.
Is there anything better than wearing the National Team jersey, listening to the national anthem and knowing that you represent the entire country?
"We are here for a purpose. It is the last window and we need a win to go to the EuroBasket," said the Greek playcaller.
"All the guys have come because they recognize the criticality of the situation. We have also brought guys from the EuroLeague. As many as we can gather and as many as I judged to be available have gathered. We must prepare for the next two games, to achieve the goal, which is qualification."
Giannoulis Larentzakis, Naz Mitrou-Long and Kostas Papanikolaou were called on from Olympiacos Piraeus, while Panagiotis Kalaitzakis, Dimitris Moraitis, Dinos Mitoglou and Ioannis Papapetrou are in camp from Panathinaikos Athens. In addition, AS Monaco big man Georgios Papagiannis is also on board.
"I am pleased. But this is self-evident for me," Spanoulis said about the country’s top players coming to play for Hellas. "We are talking about the National Team of our country, and we have set a goal to create a team that will soon return to the medal positions. So, all the guys who are here, want to be here; they like being here; and they care about helping the team go to EuroBasket."
Spanoulis knows his men will be tested right off the bat against Czechia.
"They are a very good team. They have been playing together for many years. It is not an easy game. They also really want the win. We must be focused and committed to our plan, understand the criticality of the situation and present our best self, in order to achieve our goal - to go to EuroBasket," Spanoulis said.
The 30-year-old Papapetrou is really excited about finally wearing his country's blue and white again, having last played for Greece at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
"It's a very nice feeling to be here again after the past year when I couldn't be," he said. "It's something different, very beautiful. Is there anything better than wearing the National Team jersey, listening to the national anthem and knowing that you represent the entire country?
"As an athlete, it's the ultimate you can achieve - not only the Panathinaikos, the Olympiacos, the AEKs or the fans of any team are behind you, but the whole of Greece is on your side. It's completely different. It's not about salaries, contracts, team anxieties, but it's about the love for the National Team and your country."
Papapetrou said Hellas holds a much larger meaning that breaks down any club rivalry.
"We have a good relationship with each other, we have love, we have a common goal. The National Team is above any team, we have a very good atmosphere and this always comes out on the court," said Papapetrou.
Greece have hoisted the EuroBasket trophy twice, in 1987 and 2005, and they have been present on the European stage for the last 17 editions - last missing out in 1985. But Papapetrou and the rest of the team would love to fight for a medal this summer.
"Nothing is taken for granted. Obviously the fact that we are in all major competitions means something. In competitions, because the format is like that, with the knockouts, with a win you are successful and with a loss you are not.
"It is also a bit of luck, it is the moment, without this being an excuse. I certainly think that we are missing a medal and you can be sure that we all have it in our minds, from coach Spanoulis to the last person who makes up this team."
Spanoulis will make sure his group of top stars is ready when the curtain falls on the final window.
FIBA