Greece made it to the semi-finals of last year's EuroBasket and they could have done even better if a finger injury suffered by Antonis Fotsis shortly before the tournament had not knocked the star forward out of the event.

Greek fans are relieved that Fotsis, who this summer has agreed to return to his country from Dynamo Moscow to play for Panathinaikos, is in the national squad as they prepare to host the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens from July 14-20.

"I might have not been here last year," Fotsis said, "but I always tried to be ready for the national team's call. It was a bad moment the year before, but I am here to continue exactly where I left off."

Fotsis underlined his importance to the Greeks at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan.

He was a crucial player for the team and helped them upset Team USA in the semi-finals.

"What I wish for is that I can be healthy to make it up to the games with the team, hoping to help as much as I can," he said.

"We must qualify (for the Beijing Games), that is our goal.

"We want to be one of the three teams that will get the ticket to the next round, which of course is the Olympic Games."

As for his decision to come back to Greece, Fotsis said: "I was abroad for quite a few years. I missed Hellas and now things are looking even better for me because I return both back to my home and back to Panathinaikos, a team which I began my career with."