The national team begins this Wednesday the last chance tournament, trying to qualify for Euro 2007. First opponent: Denmark
The Israeli national basketball team, led by Maccabi Tel Aviv’s NBA prospects Lior Eliyahu and Yotam Halperin, will play this Wednesday (August 8th) against Denmark in the beginning of the last chance tournament of the European championships.
Eliyahu: “There is so much respect associated with being on the national team. We know what we have to do to win”.
The blue-and-white will meet Denmark on the road in its first game. The rest of the schedule: Ukraine 11.8 (Home), Belgium 15.8 (Home), Denmark 18.8 (Home), Ukraine 22.8 (Away), Belgium 25.8 (Away).
Israel will need to finish first in the group play to qualify for a three-team competition in Madrid later in August. The winner will advance to the European basketball championships to be held in Spain at the beginning of September.
“We know we can beat everybody in our group,” Eliyahu said. “Now we just have to go out and do it.”
While playing for Israel with good friends is a great experience for everybody, Halperin said, “we have to leave the fun at the door if we are going to win.” “We must make it to the EuroBasket Championship, and we are going step by step to make sure it happens,” he added.
“Our chances of winning are improving, and the coaches and team will make their best effort to get us into shape”.
“We have not had enough time to practice, but we are working very hard and I know things will continue to improve,” National team coach and Maccabi GM Zvika Sherf said. “We must not underestimate the other teams. The people of Israel think that Israel is the main basketball country in the world, but it is not true. We will be facing very good teams throughout the tournament, and we need to know this going in.”
