Juan Carlos Navarro firmly believes Spain can capture gold this summer at the Eurobasket in Serbia & Montenegro even if Pau Gasol does not play.

The Barcelona shooting guard is looking forward to the tournament after a trophyless season with his club and is desperate to banish the memory of quarter-final defeat against Team USA at the Athens Olympics last summer.

"We are one of the few national teams that has appeared in all of the international competitions in the past nine summers," said Navarro in an interview on the Spanish Basketball Federation website, www.feb.es.

"I think the moment has come to take a step forward towards glory.

"We are going to Belgrade to get gold, without fear of any rivals and with the highest respect for everyone."

		Navarro was admiteddly not at his best during the Olympics

That Spain can attempt to go all the way in Belgrade is not an unrealistic prospect.

After all, Navarro and his team-mates have come close in the last two European championships.

Spain finished second behind Lithuania two years ago in Sweden and clinched the bronze medal in Turkey in 2001.

"Of course, it's (Eurobasket) going to be a very even tournament," admitted the Barcelona star.

"It will not be easy to fight for the medals but I see no favourites either."

At the Olympics, they went unbeaten in the preliminary round when they defeated eventual gold medalists Argentina but the United States rode a remarkable shooting display by Stephon Marbury to a 102-94 upset of the Spanish in the last eight.

The fact that the Spaniards could have finished second in their group and faced Puerto Rico instead of the US was also frustrating, too.

Instead, Italy faced the Puerto Ricans and then upset Lithuania to reach the final.

"It was a pity," admitted Navarro.

"You almost feel a rage after winning seven games, losing one and see that all your effort has only served to end up in seventh place."

But according to the shooting guard, it is a lesson that Spain will never forget and will hopefully avoid next time around.

"I guess we didn't think about it when we led our group at the Olympics following the first round games," he said.

"After what happened in Athens, everyone is now aware of the importance to reach the next stage being more competitive."

Spain will be in Group D with hosts Serbia & Montenegro and Latvia. The country that wins the additional qualifying tournament before the Eurobasket will be the fourth side in the group.

"It's going to be difficult to finish as the group leaders," admitted Navarro.

"Our aim is to reach the semi-finals and clinch the passport to go to the World Championships in Japan (2006), and after that we can look at the possibility of clinching a medal."

Navarro, nicknamed "La Bomba" (the bomb) for his formidable shooting skills, admits his performances at the Olympics could have been better and is keen to put that right in Belgrade.

"I believe I was an important part of that failure," he added.

"I should have made my shots against the United States but it was not my day and not my best tournament, but in Belgrade I am certain that my shots will go in."

Spain are uncertain if Memphis Grizzlies star Pau Gasol will compete at the Eurobasket, with the player set to make a decision in mid-July.

The likelihood is that Gasol, who missed two months of last season with a foot injury, will not play as he signed a lucrative contract extension with the NBA club.

Navarro, his former club team-mate and Gasol's best friend, believes that even without him, the team can succeed.

"Pau is a reference point for our national team and a crucial player," admitted Navarro.

"I'm certain our rivals will celebrate reading the news of his possible absence but if I were them, I wouldn't be so happy.

"We will all have to share the responsibility and take a starring role. I am certain that the qualities of the youngsters that will be included in the team will take over in Pau's absence."

Navarro also believes that Spain's main strength is their team-play and group spirit.

"We have to play comfortably in attack, aggressively in defence and to know that individual talent should serve us in the crucial moments of the game," he said.

"Most importantly, we have to have fun on the court because I believe this has been a crucial ingredient for our past success.

"We are a group of friends that have fun on and off the court."

In the meantime, with Barcelona having been knocked out of the ACB play-offs early, Navarro is looking to regain his energy to be at the top of his game for the big event.

"It's a strange feeling because never before in my career have I enjoyed such long holidays," he said.

"I've been a couple of weeks without touching a ball and I still don't believe it but I think this will be a good way to join the national team with a lot more energy."