Interfestation for Lithuania’s trainer Rimas Kurstinaitis

Before top game

Trainer vortex at Basketball-European Championship

On Tuesday evening, Lithuania would like to move into the semi-finals of the SEM basketball against Greece. There is unrest before the game.

Shortly before the quarter-finals of the Seme Basketball between Lithuania and Greece (Tuesday, 8 p.m.) there were tensions away from the field. The focus: Lithuania’s national coach Rimas Kurdinaitis.

Greek media representatives accused the coach of a lack of willingness to talk. The background to this is that, according to journalists, Kurinaitis should have passed them twice without comment on them – without reacting to questions.

The journalist Vasiliki Karamouza from “Sport24” criticized the behavior publicly on the “X” platform: “Very unprofessional behavior of Rimas Kurdinaitis.” Her colleague Harris Stavrou was also angered.

The Lithuanian basketball association reacted the same evening with a public statement and turned directly to the Greek journalists: “Dear Greek journalists, head coach of the Lithuanian national team, Rimas Kurdinaitis, sincerely apologize for the misunderstanding that has arisen.”

In the message, the association said that team manager Linas Kleiza and captain Jonas Valanciunas were ready for the planned interview. However, Kurstinaitis incorrectly assumed that Kleiza had already answered all questions about the game. In order to clarify the situation, the association offered the media representatives a conversation with the coach on Tuesday morning – “as long as necessary”.

As several Greek media unanimously report, on Tuesday morning there was actually still a conversation between Kurtinaitis and the journalists concerned. The sporting duel between Lithuania and Greece will increase on Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. The winner moves into the semi -finals of the EM 2025.