EuroBasket 2025: the Czech Republic between transmission and transition
There are sixteen. Sixteen names lying on a pre-list, revealed without a break but with real consequences. The Czech Republic unveiled its expanded group for EuroBasket 2025. A group on horseback between heritage and renewal, with a leader still there, Tomas Satoransky, but another great absent: Jan Vesely. And this absence, it makes more noise than the list itself.
Satoransky remains, Vesely declines
They were still imagined hand in hand, leader and interior of the Barça, icons of a golden generation. But this time, Vesely won't answer the call. Not a dry refusal, but a package imposed by a body that says stop. Inside the 111 selections, injured at the end of last season, did not get back fast enough to hold his place. A prudent decision but leaving a huge void in the Czech racket. And for a country that has always built its ambitions around its executives, it is a small earthquake.
Air change, change of era?
So the time has come for relief. And it doesn't lack freshness. Head of gondola, Vit Krejci. Still discreet in the NBA with the Hawks, but full of talent and hunger. Behind him, a group of young people who are hungry for minutes and exhibition: David Bohm, Richard Balint or Ondrej Hanzlik. Names that don't slam in the ears yet, but that could do their hole in the coming months.
And around, experienced men. Jaromir Bohacik, Ondrej Sehnal, Vojtech Hruban... soldiers, guys who know the house. The frame is there, remains to be seen whether the mayonnaise will take without Vesely's tutelary shadow to make the link between the generations.
A group trapped in Riga
And the draw has nothing to offer. Head for Latvia for a Group A that smells like a tramp. The host country, boiling at home. Serbia, medal machine. Turkey, unpredictable but still dangerous. And to complete the casting, Estonia and Portugal, two outsiders who have nothing to lose. Anyway, every game will look like a guillotine, and every mistake will be paid for cash.
The 16 of departure
Here is the full list of players called:
- David Bohm (EPG Koblenz)
- Richard Balint (SAM BSN Brno)
- Jaromir Bohacik (ERA Nymburk)
- Ondrej Hanzlik (Zamora)
- Vojtech Hruban (ERA Nymburk)
- Ondrej Hustak (Zamora)
- Adam Kejval (SAM BSN Brno)
- Vit Krejci (Atlanta Hawks)
- Petr Krivanek (SAM BSN Brno)
- Martin Kriz (ERA Nymburk)
- Tomas Kyzlink (Jilin Northeast Tigers)
- Martin Peterka (Yalovaspor)
- Frantisek Rylich (ERA Nymburk)
- Tomas Satoransky (FC Barcelona)
- Ondrej Sehnal (ERA Nymburk)
- Jan Zidek (Sant Antoni)
Towards a new history page
Two years from the tournament, the Czech Republic already knows that it will have to reinvent itself. No question of turning your back on his past, but you have to write a new story, with new faces. The challenge is immense, but enthusiasm is there. And sometimes that's all it takes to create a surprise.
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