The easy part for Lithuania was winning the European title in 2003.

Now comes the hard part - winning again in 2005 in Serbia & Montenegro.

"We cannot be better than 2003," said Mindaugas Zukauskas, a member of the team that went unbeaten in Sweden and captured gold, to PA International.

		“	It's more difficult to be champions a second time than to become champions.	„
		Mindaugas Zukauskas

"That was an incredible group. Now everyone wants to be the champions.

"It's more difficult to be champions a second time than to become champions.

"But if we can keep the same team, we have a lot of talent, we can repeat. We will see."

Zukauskas, a 2.01m forward, is not kidding when he says Lithuania had an incredible team.

Sarunas Jasikevicius stole most of the headlines and was voted MVP for the Eurobasket, but that tournament also saw the emergence of shooting sensation Arvydas Macijauskas.

He followed that competition up with a successful move to Vitoria, where he plays for Spanish title contenders Tau Ceramica.

But what makes Lithuania special is not one or two players.

There simply is no drop-off in performance when reserves check into the game.

Nearly every player on the team can shoot the ball.

"I think this is the character (of Lithuanians)," Zukauskas said.

"We don't force the shot until you are open, and if open, you have the confidence. Some players force the shots."

The winning traditions

Lithuania won the hearts of European basketball fans with their displays at the Sydney Olympics, when they nearly upset the United States in the semi-finals.

After slipping up at the European Championships in Turkey and failing to qualify for FIBA World Championship 2002, they hit back with a vengeance.

		Sarunas Jasikevicius led Lithuania to Eurobasket gold in 2003

Had Lithuania not lost against Italy in the semi-finals of the Athens Games last summer, they may have gone on to a dream gold double - Eurobasket and Olympics - although Argentina would have provided stern opposition.

They ended up falling to the United States in the bronze medal game, too, which meant they left Greece with nothing.

"We were doing the same as at the Euros," Zukauskas said.

"We played the United States and beat them, and then one game changed everything.

"You never know when this is going to happen.

"We played Italy and they played very well, and some of our leaders didn't play as well as they could have."

Zukauskas admits that the prospect of international competition is not something a player immediately gets excited about.

At that level of play, only the best are competing and those very players have already had gruelling club seasons.

Zukauskas plays in Italy, and Montepaschi have competed in Lega A, the Euroleague and the Coppa Italia.

"The biggest problem is you never have breaks in the summer, after a tough league in Italy and Spain," Zukauskas said.

"Sometimes you need a break. It's difficult."

The Jasikevicius factor

Arvydas Sabonis and Sarunas Marciulionis are the biggest names in the history of the Lithuanian game, but Jasikevicius entered into the country's famous basketball lore.

His efforts at the European Championships in Sweden made sure of that, but Jasikevicius added to his reputation with a game-winning performance against the United States in Athens last summer.

"We're friends and we talk," Zukauskas said. "Everyone in the national team is friends.

"But yes, Sara has already proved it, that he is a great one. He has three Euroleague titles, and he was MVP of the finals.

"He's going to be a legend.

"Macijauskas, (Ramunas) Siskauskas - they have a chance of being as good. If they continue, they will be great ones and maybe the NBA will be next."

Watching Jasikevicius play is like watching a coach, too. He always issues instructions and is never to afraid to dish out criticism.

Jasikevicius is also the first player to applaud a team-mate.

"It's what they say, the playmaker is like the second coach on the court," Zukauskas said.