‘With coach Spanoulis everything becomes easier, when you play for him you automatically want to give something more’

The Greek national team will face Great Britain twice, away and at home in the framework of the EuroBasket 2025 windows and Vangelis Zougris spoke to SPORT24 for his call to our representative group.

The 20-year-old center talked about his ambitions with the blue and white team, his feelings and of course his collaboration with Vassilis Spanoulis.

The call to the national team is a mixture of many emotions

The games don’t stop, with the national team competitions succeeding the clubs, but Vangelis Zougris doesn’t feel tired, but a magical feeling every time he sees his name on the calls…

“When you serve the national flag there is no fatigue, all the burden you have is eliminated. It is a magical feeling. There is no fatigue, everything is spiritual and this pleasure of being here with teammates from all over Greece to represent the national flag eliminates every trace (s.s. of fatigue).

Every time it’s the same (s.s. feeling about calling it). Even from the teenage groups, to the youth, to the men, it is special. It’s the same, but it’s different every time. A mixture of many emotions, joy, pride, honor. Every time is magical.”

There was no reason to be here unless we wanted to do something special

Vangelis Zougris has won two back to back medals with the Youth National Team and the question about whether he dreams of a medal with the Men’s National Team was reasonable…

“100%, I mean it goes without saying that it is this thing. The reason we are here is none other than that. Especially knowing the coach and having worked with him for two years in a row, I am sure that this is his goal as well. He has said it publicly. Obviously there was no reason for us to be here if we didn’t want to do something special and win.”

From the television, on which he saw Vassilis Spanoulis doing great, Vangelis Zougris now has him by his side giving him instructions. It is a unique experience and the 20-year-old center talks about one of the best feelings he has experienced so far…

“It reminds you where you started, where you started, the hardships you’ve gone through all along to get here. It’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever experienced.”

The headquarters of the Men’s National Team for the match against Great Britain will be Thessaloniki and Zougris emphasized the importance of moving our representative team to other cities…

“It’s wonderful, it unites the world. The world has the possibility even if it’s in Thessaloniki or Crete to come and support the players, to come and see the world. I think it’s a wonderful move by the Federation. It will contribute to people get involved in the long-term goal of our National Team”.

With Spanoulis, everything becomes easier

The chemistry of the team in the window process is key and Zougris stated that everything is easier with Vassilis Spanoulis on the bench…

“To be honest with coach Spanoulis, everything becomes easier. When you know that you are playing for this person, you automatically want to give something more and I believe that is the reason why, for so long, all the children, regardless of their names, give their best themselves and play in red for the national emblem”.