Quote:Croatia Target The Medals
If Croatia are going to build on the momentum of their sixth-place finish at this summer's Olympics, the national side will have to beat some very good teams at next year's EuroBasket in Poland.
On Saturday, Croatia discovered they would go up against fellow Olympic quarter-finalists Greece, along with Israel and FYROM in Group A.
"We've always awaited draws with attention, but this one was different," Croatia sharpshooter Marko Popovic said.
"We're aware of our own qualities and almost immediately after the draw was made, we started to think about the second phase of the EuroBasket.
"Since we'll join teams from Group B, where one participant is still unknown until the last phase of qualifications, my wish is that Italy earn the place so we can meet them in Poland."
Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Portugal, Belgium and Finland will play in the Additional Qualifying Round with the one spot still open in Group B.
Davor Kus had a great summer with Croatia and has carried his good form into the club campaign with Cibona Zagreb.
Kus says there is no reason why Croatia cannot dream of gold.
"As usual, you can't do anything before the draw but after it has been made, you have to face all opponents with the same wish, with the same enthusiasm if you want to reach your goals," Kus said.
"And, if we play on the same level we've played this summer (in Athens and Beijing), I think we are capable of defeating every single rival."
Tau Ceramica center Stanko Barac played in Athens and Beijing and he figures to be in the mix for Poland.
"Sincerely, the draw is not so important," he said.
"It's who'll accept the invitation to play for Croatia that is important.
"If all of our best players say ââ¬ËYes, I'll come and play for my national team', then we'll have a chance to fight for a medal in Poland."
One of those "best players" is Sasha Vujcic, and he appears ready to make a comeback.
The former national team captain hasn't played for the national side since EuroBasket 2005.
"As Vujcic said he'll once again be in our national team, I can say that we will go to EuroBasket with one single goal: to reach one of three medals there," Popovic said.
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main thing for croatian basketball federation will be to keep Repesa as coach, he still didn't decide will he lead our tem in next years. Velimir Perasovic and Drazen Anzulovic are candidates to replace him. Vujcic is one of most heated men in croatian sport's public and his return isn't maybe good thing even his basketball qualitiy is unquestionabe.
Quote:Repesa Stays On Croatia Bench
Fears that Croatia boss Jasmin Repesa might leave the national team and focus exclusively on Lottomatica Roma have eased.
Repesa, who guided the country to a sixth-place finish at this year's Olympics, has met with Croatian Basketball Federation (CBF) president Danko Radic in Rome and the two parties agreed that the veteran boss would continue in the job and that the contract would only be terminated if the coach decides he cannot physically combine both roles.
"We continue where we stopped, with the same agreement and the same team," Radic said.
"The only potential problem could be Repesa's health. We know that he had heart and blood pressure problems in the past. We hope that he can finish this big obligation that he has with the national team."
Drazen Anzulovic will remain as the first assistant to Repesa and appears to be a potential heir to the national team throne if Repesa does eventually step down.
Croatia will play at the EuroBasket in Poland next year in Group A (Poznan) with Greece, Israel and FYROM.
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Quote:In an interview to an Israeli media where he reviewed the past season and talked about the his future plans, Olympiacos' Croatian center Nikola Vujcic confirmed that he will play in the Eurobasket 2009, in Poland next September.
More specifically Nikola Vujcic stated:
"I am returning to Croatia National Team after a year of absence and I am very enthusiastic about this and can't wait for it because I have been away from this team for a while. It will be an interesting tournament as we will be facing Greece and Israel National Teams. Croatia always aims high but we will have to take everything step by step but I like our chances"
Croatia's pre-selection:
Damir Markota
Zoran Planinic
Davor Kus
Nikola Vujcic
Mario Kasun
Marin Rozic
Marko Tomas
Marko Popovic
Roko-Leni Ukic
Damjan Rudez
Nikola Prkacin
Jakov Vladovic
Kresimir Loncar
Marko Banic
Sandro Nicevic
Ante Tomic
Drago Pasalic
Mario Stojic
Goran Suton
Tomislav Zubcic
Mario Delas
Damir Rancic
Krunoslav Simon
Rok StipceviÄ
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