The Israeli team held today (Sunday) the press conference ahead of the pair of games against Poland and Estonia in the qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup this weekend with the participation of coach Guy Goodes and captain Gal Makal.
Goodes opened by saying: "Against Poland it is a completely different game because three players who were not in the first game joined, Slaughter, Sokolowski and Ponitka, this team is very strong and dominant, it wants to compete like everyone else to advance to the playoffs. We saw it in November and February when we missed a win away and if we were sharper we could have won at home, what happened happened and we need to focus on that window.
"We had a little more training from the previous windows and on the other hand each player came from his place. We had a little more time to try to straighten a line in terms of playing ability and things we want to do, and I hope by Thursday we will be more prepared for an important game."
"It's very different because when you get players during a season then all the players are fit and play and you manage to do some training and play. This window is more of a mental window than a physical window and I said that to the players. "Window has its momentum, so it's hard to predict what will happen. The Poles did one training game and the Estonians two so they have a small advantage over us. We have players who need to get in shape but they know each other quite well."
Goods and stick.
Ready for Poland?
"Every quality player is important to us, probably when they finished their season with a double, they are in good shape. In my opinion, this is a window that is only mental.
"You can not disconnect the situation from what is happening, players have closed and there will be more to close, it's part of summer and you can not ignore it, you can talk about it outside of training but when training starts you have to concentrate on the task. On the side for a week, it is not long, after that there is a long summer. "
"When there are quality players it's a better thing and my headache will be bigger. My job is to pick the players in the best shape that can lead to victory. There's a competition and that's a super important thing."
On the game against Poland: "The game against Poland was the first and it was the beginning of something new for us and also the Poles had a different coach and a different method than what they played all the time, it took us time. "The Traps are their DNA, we have made progress in the game in Estonia and slowly you are getting into a certain rhythm. I am happy with the first window and less with the second, now it's the money time."
Laser training of the Israeli team, Photo: Oded Karni
Gal Makal: "Each window is a window in itself, we really stumbled in the previous window, which we were not used to in recent years and we want to get back on the winning track, it is a super important window and we need one victory to advance to the next stage, there is a wide staff, many players, some We come after seasons and some after holidays, we have to do the work. "
"In the first game they came and blew us up in the first few minutes and it took us a while to adjust, they are an intense and aggressive team, we prepare for it and if we adjust ourselves in terms of aggressiveness and intensity then we will be in good shape because in terms of basketball quality we do not fall for them for sure."
"I feel good, I think it's precisely in this section that I was injured in February and did finger surgery surgery in my favor because I work two months in a row with the team and I feel I brought myself in good shape. For me I was in these situations many times, probably at my age, I started several times "The season without a team and I waited patiently, I'm sure there are players who have it in their head but for me it's the opposite, I just want to concentrate on the team."
"I think the Israeli team over the years has always played with two guards on the field and in the context of Tamir in recent years I play with him successfully and we have very good chemistry, as Sagi said there are many guards and it's good, a lot of young guys slowly take up space and play "At high levels, it's good for the team, everyone has to be the best when they are on the pitch, you see that in the Spanish league, the Euroleague and the EuroCup, I personally was in teams with four or five guards."
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