Spanoulis lashes out: “We forget far too easily and wait to attack when something goes wrong”

Greece kept its World Cup qualification hopes alive with a 108-106 overtime victory over Spain, a result Vassilis Spanoulis described as one of the best games he had seen as a coach.

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It was a game of life and death.

The Greece coach praised his players for responding against a strong Spanish side after difficult recent matches. He said the team showed intelligence, courage and composure, even as Spain hit difficult three-pointers. He also thanked supporters who backed the team during the game.

Spanoulis used the occasion to criticize what he sees as a tendency in Greece to forget quickly and attack the national team after a poor performance. “We forget far too easily and wait to attack when something goes wrong,” he said. He added that criticism belongs in basketball, but sometimes goes beyond the national team and becomes entangled with club loyalties.

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We forget far too easily and wait to attack when something goes wrong.

He said national-team players and coaches must accept criticism, while also remembering what Greece has achieved in recent years. Spanoulis said he represents his country and would not abandon the team after setbacks, arguing that failure should lead to rebuilding rather than declaring everyone incompetent.

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I am a patriot and represent my country.

The coach also pointed to the difficulty of preparing during international windows, when players arrive after a demanding season or just before preseason begins. He said Greece had worked on spacing and ball movement, and that the players showed they could challenge any opponent when fully focused. He singled out Dinos, who continued playing despite repeated cramps, and said he had wanted the team to pass during the final possession because he believed it would make the free throws.

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We Greeks unite in difficult times, and I thank them very much for being here and supporting us.