Spain ended its trip to Greece with a 108-106 overtime loss, yet the bench message stayed steady. Chus Mateo spoke to the media after the game and repeated his belief that the national team will reach the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar.
Mateo stays calm in the press room
Spain head coach sounded "relatively calm" despite the setback in Athens. Mateo stressed that the project remains on track and that qualification "will work out," a line he returned to several times during the press conference.
His reading points to trust in the runway left in the European qualifiers: the defeat hurts, but it does not change his view of the group ability to fix details and compete at the level required in the upcoming FIBA windows.
A window that leaves work to do
The close in Greece follows a tough start to the phase, with two setbacks that tighten the group standings. Spain will need wins against direct rivals to keep direct World Cup qualification alive.
In that context, Mateo optimism does not ignore the picture: he wants to keep locker-room belief high while the team sharpens execution, defensive intensity and late-game management.
Mara also speaks after the game
Aday Mara was another player who faced the media at the final buzzer. The young center shared his take on the game and on the work ahead in a decisive stretch of the international calendar.
The message before the decisive stretch
With qualification still open, the national team faces each window with less room for error. Mateo needs the roster to turn his words into results, but made clear he does not see a World Cup without Spain in Qatar 2027.
Comments from the head coach and Mara after the game in Athens were reported by AS — Baloncesto, Mundo Deportivo — Baloncesto and SPORT — Baloncesto.
