SRB - 'Aleksandar the Great' evaluates Serbs' chances

BELGRADE (EuroBasket 2007) - Aleksandar Djordjevic knows what it takes to win a EuroBasket crown.

During his glorious career, "Aleksandar the Great" won golds in 1991, 1995, 1997 .

The Serbian point guard, now retired as a player, is coaching Armani Jeans Milano in Italy's Lega A and after hearing about the draw for next year's EuroBasket, he spoke of his former national team's chances.

"It will be a very tough challenge for our new, young team," he said.

"Not just because of draw, it's because there are no weak opponents at European Championships."

Serbia, who last won a medal at the FIBA World Championship four years ago in Indianapolis, are not the force they used to be.

They lost to France in the elimination round at EuroBasket 2005 on home soil, and needed a wild card to play at the World Championship this year.

Djordjevic became a national hero at EuroBasket 1997.

After a first round defeat against Italy, he hit a shot beyond the arc in the final seconds to earn his team a 64-62 victory over bitter rivals Croatia.

Djordjevic scored 19 points in that game.

After that, despite playing injured, Djordjevic led the Blues to victories over hosts Spain (79-70), Lithuania (75-60), Greece in the semi-finals (88-80), and finally 61-49 over Italy in the finals.

"I know my buzzer-beating three-pointer against the Croats sent thousands of our fans into the streets of Yugoslavia's cities, but one man can never defeat a team," he said.

"It's team who can only win. It's team that we need in Spain next year, not individual stars."
Serbia, whose best known player is now Darko Milicic, have been drawn in Group A at EuroBasket 2007.

Reigning champions Greece, Russia and the winner of next summer's additional qualifying tournament are also in the pool.

Djordjevic said: "Russia is a country where basketball is in huge expansion. They've invested a lot in it as they want to be at the top once again.

"Many famous names of world basketball worked or still work in Russia, and one of the best European coaches, Ettore Messina, is at CSKA Moscow, but the most important thing is that they've chosen very well by appointing Benetton Treviso's coach David Blatt as the head coach of national team.

"On the other hand, Greece deserved both their medals in previous couple of years, gold at the EuroBasket in my country and silver in Japan.

"There's no doubt they are really a quality squad.

"They've started to reach podiums at big competitions, so I'm sure that they'll do their best in Spain, also, to continue with a good run."

"We are not without chances, though, but as I've said, we need to build a team.

"Not just a group of good players, we need a "collective soul", like we used to have when we were European and world champions at the end of the 20th century.

"It is possible, but only if our players realise that results depend just on them, and their attitude.

"How they act at training camp, how they act when the competition starts, that will determine their final position."

From Darko Nikolic
PA Sport, Belgrade