KAUNAS (EuroBasket 2011) - With the second round now behind us, London now quite literally gets closer for eight teams as the tournament moves west to Kaunas for the final stages.
When EuroBasket arrived at the same stage in the previous EuroBasket tournament that doubled as an Olympic qualifier in Madrid, Spain in 2007; six of the eight teams that were there then are again here now in 2011. Of those six teams Spain, Russia, Lithuania and Greece would go on to realize their Olympics dreams whilst Slovenia would fail in their bid to experience the Olympics for the first time in their short history, and France would not be able to return for the first time since winning silver back in Sydney in 2000. Joining those six in the final eight are newcomers F.Y.R. of Macedonia who have never before made it to this stage in a tournament and hence never been to the Olympics; and Serbia who are hoping to return to the Olympics following an eight year absence.
Playing in the first quarterfinal on Wednesday, Spain will be confident of moving one step closer to direct Olympic qualification when they take on a Slovenian side whose time in Lithuania has to date resembled something of a rollercoaster. Already Slovenia has suggested their thoughts are not so much on winning the quarterfinal with veteran center Uros Slokar telling media that his team's goal sits somewhere else. Without Slokar explaining further what that means, it would seem that the goal is to aim for a top six finish and make their journey to the Olympics via next year's additional qualifying tournament.
Having achieved their tournament goal by making it this far, F.Y.R. of Macedonia will be feeling the pressure released from their shoulders now and that may well show that when they take on Lithuania in Wednesday's second quarterfinal. F.Y.R of Macedonia were unlucky not to defeat Russia in their final second round encounter and they will be aware of the fact that Lithuania battled against Russia in matches prior to the tournament. However, F.Y.R. of Macedonia Head Coach Marin Dokuzovski has seen little minutes from his bench in this tournament so far and fatigue in his key players may start to play a role. Coupled with the fact that it looks likely that inspirational starting center Todor Gechevski will miss the game with injury, F.Y.R of Macedonia could be struggling against the Lithuanians who will have the unwavering support of the crowd behind them and will also be better from an extra day's rest.
With some teams looking to the future by bringing a number of fresh faces to this year's tournament, France is one team bucking the trend with their minds firmly set on winning EuroBasket and worrying about the Olympics later with French Head Coach Vincent Collet telling FIBA that this team was brought to play this tournament alone with no places within the side guaranteed for next year. One of those who is coming to the tournament with an eye to the future is Ilias Zouros, head coach of France's opposition in the quarters, Greece. Leaving a number of veteran players at home, Zouros keeps insisting that his team is a work in progress and because of this, they be one that will struggle against a French team bringing back Tony Parker and Joakim Noah who were both rested in France's previous outing.
The last time that Russia needed to qualify for the Olympics they did it with a statement by beating world champions Spain in the final of EuroBasket 2007. If they are to take the same direct qualifying route here then they are going to have to continue the tournament as the only unbeaten team up until the gold medal game. Fresh off a win over F.Y.R. of Macedonia, Russia also showed they can get the job done without star Andrei Kirilenko who had an off night shooting. Yet despite their unbeaten status, Russia is justifiably remaining wary as they prepare to take on Serbia who only made it this far when Turkey's Ersan Ilyasova missed the game winner that would have instead put his team in the last eight. Having arrived to this point in such a fashion Serbia will now be all the more determined not to go home and as Russian Head Coach David Blatt pointed out to media, they will also be all the better for having had a rest day more than the Russians.
When EuroBasket arrived at the same stage in the previous EuroBasket tournament that doubled as an Olympic qualifier in Madrid, Spain in 2007; six of the eight teams that were there then are again here now in 2011. Of those six teams Spain, Russia, Lithuania and Greece would go on to realize their Olympics dreams whilst Slovenia would fail in their bid to experience the Olympics for the first time in their short history, and France would not be able to return for the first time since winning silver back in Sydney in 2000. Joining those six in the final eight are newcomers F.Y.R. of Macedonia who have never before made it to this stage in a tournament and hence never been to the Olympics; and Serbia who are hoping to return to the Olympics following an eight year absence.
Playing in the first quarterfinal on Wednesday, Spain will be confident of moving one step closer to direct Olympic qualification when they take on a Slovenian side whose time in Lithuania has to date resembled something of a rollercoaster. Already Slovenia has suggested their thoughts are not so much on winning the quarterfinal with veteran center Uros Slokar telling media that his team's goal sits somewhere else. Without Slokar explaining further what that means, it would seem that the goal is to aim for a top six finish and make their journey to the Olympics via next year's additional qualifying tournament.
Having achieved their tournament goal by making it this far, F.Y.R. of Macedonia will be feeling the pressure released from their shoulders now and that may well show that when they take on Lithuania in Wednesday's second quarterfinal. F.Y.R of Macedonia were unlucky not to defeat Russia in their final second round encounter and they will be aware of the fact that Lithuania battled against Russia in matches prior to the tournament. However, F.Y.R. of Macedonia Head Coach Marin Dokuzovski has seen little minutes from his bench in this tournament so far and fatigue in his key players may start to play a role. Coupled with the fact that it looks likely that inspirational starting center Todor Gechevski will miss the game with injury, F.Y.R of Macedonia could be struggling against the Lithuanians who will have the unwavering support of the crowd behind them and will also be better from an extra day's rest.
With some teams looking to the future by bringing a number of fresh faces to this year's tournament, France is one team bucking the trend with their minds firmly set on winning EuroBasket and worrying about the Olympics later with French Head Coach Vincent Collet telling FIBA that this team was brought to play this tournament alone with no places within the side guaranteed for next year. One of those who is coming to the tournament with an eye to the future is Ilias Zouros, head coach of France's opposition in the quarters, Greece. Leaving a number of veteran players at home, Zouros keeps insisting that his team is a work in progress and because of this, they be one that will struggle against a French team bringing back Tony Parker and Joakim Noah who were both rested in France's previous outing.
The last time that Russia needed to qualify for the Olympics they did it with a statement by beating world champions Spain in the final of EuroBasket 2007. If they are to take the same direct qualifying route here then they are going to have to continue the tournament as the only unbeaten team up until the gold medal game. Fresh off a win over F.Y.R. of Macedonia, Russia also showed they can get the job done without star Andrei Kirilenko who had an off night shooting. Yet despite their unbeaten status, Russia is justifiably remaining wary as they prepare to take on Serbia who only made it this far when Turkey's Ersan Ilyasova missed the game winner that would have instead put his team in the last eight. Having arrived to this point in such a fashion Serbia will now be all the more determined not to go home and as Russian Head Coach David Blatt pointed out to media, they will also be all the better for having had a rest day more than the Russians.
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