Neno was right - Czechs can fight for spot in Rio

PRAGUE (2016 Rio Olympics) - The Czech Republic's successful EuroBasket 2015 proved that national team boss Ronen "Neno" Ginzburg is two things - a good coach and a fortune teller. 

What he is not, as national team veteran Jiri Welsch once suspected, is "completely crazy."

Jiri Welsch and coach Ronen Ginzburg (CZE) at EuroBasket 2015

When Ginzburg took the reins after EuroBasket 2013, he spoke with conviction, declaring that the team could reach one of the three six-team FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs).

His squad got into EuroBasket 2015 - albeit by the skin of his teeth. Georgia, the Czechs and Hungary each won four of six games in the Second Qualification Round, and the first two advanced on a tie-breaker.

Not only did the Czech team then, once at the 24-team event, advance from the Group Phase in Riga, Latvia, to the knockout round in Lille, France but they also made it to the OQTs following an unforgettable campaign.

After finishing third in Group D, the Czechs hammered Croatia in the Round of 16, 80-59, and gave themselves three chances to book an OQT place. After losing a Quarter-Final to Serbia and a Classification Round game to Italy, the Czechs had a do-or-die clash with Latvia. Ginzburg's men rolled to a 97-70 triumph to finish seventh and claim an OQT place. 

I have to confirm that when Neno (Ginzburg) got the job, he said this team could fight for the Olympics. We all thought that he was completely crazy. - Welsch

The reality is that Ginzburg had cause to be optimistic. At EuroBasket 2013, the Czechs very nearly upset hosts Slovenia on opening night of the tournament but lost, 62-60. They ended up winning against Poland and beating Georgia but the loss to Slovenia, who finished third in Group C, prevented the fourth-place Czechs from progressing.

When I took the job, I wasn't scared to say that this (OQT) was our target. We have a good mix of players. We have leadership, good young players. I think we played good basketball most of the games. Sometimes we failed against the big, big teams on the little things. I hope we improve and can make a good qualification to get to the Olympics. - Ginzburg

If the team wins the OQT it takes part in, the Czech Republic will qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Games.

Welsch, of course, and his teammates will never doubt their coach again. The coach has turned the players into believers.

The Czech Republic (CZE) proved Ginzburg right in Lille

"We'll have a chance to fight for something that many generations in our country didn't have a chance to fight for," Welsch said.

They will fight for a spot in the Olympics.

FIBA