Spanoulis Dedicates Medal to All Greeks

Spanoulis Dedicates Medal to All Greeks

Greece reclaimed its place on the European stage, securing a proud bronze medal after a thrilling 92–89 victory over Finland in the EuroBasket 2025 third-place game. The triumph, which marked the National Team’s first medal in 16 years, sparked celebrations on the bench and transformed the stands into a sea of Greek pride. At the heart of it all was Vassilis Spanoulis, the coach who rekindled belief in the team, speaking passionately about a squad that refused to falter.

Spanoulis’ Statement

Visibly emotional, the national coach dedicated the medal “to all of Greece—to Greeks here and abroad,” emphasizing unity: “Together, as one team, one fist, we delivered an outstanding performance and completed an excellent tournament.”

Reflecting on the journey, he acknowledged a setback: “We played poorly against Turkey and did ourselves a disservice.” However, the team bounced back decisively: “We picked up the pieces, came prepared, and earned what we deserved.” Spanoulis extended “a big congratulations to the players,” expressing gratitude to everyone who supported the effort, “even those who couldn’t be here.” He expressed confidence in the future, stating, “In the coming years, we won’t have such heart-stopping moments. God helped us, but above all, we helped each other.”