Latvia’s head coach Luca Banchi expressed visible frustration following his team’s Round 4 victory over Portugal in the EuroBasket 2025 Group A qualifiers, as injuries continue to plague the squad.
The Latvian national team improved to a 2-2 record after defeating Portugal, but the win came at a cost. Guards Arturs Zagars and Kristers Zoriks both sustained injuries during the game, adding to the team’s growing list of absences. Their current status remains unclear.
Earlier in the tournament, Andrejs Grazulis was ruled out for the remainder of the competition after getting injured in the matchup against Serbia. With Zagars and Zoriks now also hurt, Latvia’s depth is being severely tested.
Speaking in the post-game press conference, Banchi refrained from sharing specific updates on the newly injured players, but his frustration boiled over in a passionate criticism of FIBA’s roster regulations.
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“When you select 12 players, you’re choosing the most functional — not necessarily the absolute best — but those who offer versatility and can cover multiple roles,” Banchi said. “That’s because you have to be prepared for the unexpected — and for us, unfortunately, it keeps happening far too often.”
He went on to question why FIBA doesn’t allow national teams to bring additional players as injury reserves.
“Why not allow three extra players to be part of the team experience at EuroBasket or the World Cup?” Banchi argued. “It’s an incredible opportunity for young players to learn, and they could step in if injuries occur.”
“In 2025, we’re playing back-to-back games with a high level of physicality. In our group alone, you have players like Porzingis, Şengün, Jokić, and Queta — injuries are simply part of the game.”
Banchi’s remarks underline the physical toll the tournament is taking on teams, and his comments are likely to spark further debate around FIBA’s player eligibility rules.
