From PA International, Athens

Greece basketball coach Yiannis Ioannidis' rallying cry to his troops for the coming European  Champions sounded like a particularly grizzly passage from a Greek tragedy.

"I want them to bleed and die for the team," he declared. "I want them to bleed on the floor, to chase victory and to die for the team. "If they do that, I will be content, regardless of the result." 

Although his words might well inspire, they certainly didn't surprise.  For more than two decades, Ioannidis, an admirer of NBA coach Pat Riley, has pushed his players hard and has been very sparing with any praise.  Ioannidis does, of course, want a result. 

In private conversations he has hinted he will settle for nothing less than a medal, which Greece has won three times in the long history of the European titles (third in 1949, first in 1987, second in 1989).  Most of all, he wants to make up for a disappointing ninth place in the last championships, in 2001. 

Ioannidis also delights in using extravagant epigrams.  "A few words are sugar, none is honey," he told reporters as he discussed preparations for the European Championships which will be held in Sweden in September. A notorious disciplinarian, Ioannidis tolerates no dissent, especially from youngsters who have yet to prove themselves.

Until August 5 the team is training at the high-altitude northern village of Metsovo before some friendlies against the likes of defending world champions Serbia and Montenegro, Italy, Spain and Australia.  Ioannidis is working with a squad of 20 players and will choose a final roster of 12 just before the championships.  NBA players Iakovos Tsakalidis (Phoenix Suns) and Efthymis Rentzias  (Philadelphia 76ers) will join the training in a week's time.