The basketball players are already starting their preparations for qualifying for the WC, and Satoranský is also nominated

“We are not in a very easy situation. It does not depend only on us, but I believe that if we win both games, we will advance. If we get one victory, we still have a good chance,” said Ginzburg in today’s press conference.

The trio Satoranský, Balvín, Auda returned to the national team after almost a year. The three players last represented last year in July at the Olympic Games, where the Czechs reached after 41 years. Satoranský then spent one season in the NBA, Balvín and Auda again in Japan. Since then, they have not been allowed to attend previous qualifying matches due to local coronavirus measures.

“Out of all the qualifying windows, we now have the strongest team at our disposal. But traitor, because all the players just finished the season. We have games against two strong teams, but we have to believe in each other,” said Ginzburg.

Jaromír Bohačík from Strasbourg and David Jelínek from Andorra are in the preliminary seventeen-member nomination. They intervened in the first part of the qualification, but not in the second. Both have battled injuries in recent months.

“David was injured in our game against Lithuania in November and it took a long time to recover. But he has played the last eight or nine games for Andorra and we will try to get him involved. Boči also had some problems and We’ll see how he practices. But I’m glad he’s here,” Ginzburg said. The final nomination will consist of twelve players.

The team did not include quarterback Vít Krejčí, who is recovering from knee surgery, and Jan Veselý, who successfully finished the season with Fenerbahce Istanbul on Monday and won the Turkish title.

The Czech representatives are currently in the last fourth place in the qualifying group. In a weak team, they lost in November in Bosnia and Herzegovina (90:97) and then they were not enough even at home against Lithuania (66:74). In February, they lost to Bulgaria 70:79, but then they beat the same opponent in front of their own fans 83:80.

However, they can get a promotion after the first day of play. To do this, they must beat Bosnia and Herzegovina by 14 or more points, and at the same time, Bulgaria must not beat Lithuania at home. “The pressure to advance to the next stage is here. We entered the qualification with the intention to go further. The situation is not ideal, but we have two matches, we can prepare better than the previous windows and I believe we will manage, ” said Bohačík.