SKOPJE (EuroBasket 2015) - The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (MKD) announced their 12-man roster for EuroBasket 2015 on Thursday prior to the departure for Zagreb, where they will commence their campaign in Group C.

The 35-year-old veteran guard Vlado Ilievski, who had contemplated retirement from international duty following EuroBasket 2013 but was intrigued by the prospect of a third consecutive EuroBasket appearance, headlines the team.

"My great desire is to qualify to the next round from the group," said Ilievski.

"We want to look like a real team, which will present the country in the best light possible.

"We are on track to do that.

"I believe in my team-mates and I think we have enough motivation and quality to advance to the Final Phase."

In addition to Ilievski, the 2015 roster also includes another five players who helped MKD accomplish their major achievement of reaching the Semi-Finals of EuroBasket 2011, and then also played in the 2013 edition of the showpiece tournament, in Slovenia.

Vojdan Stojanovski, who is expected to assume the role of the leader of this team in Zagreb, his twin brother Damjan, point guard Darko Sokolov and big man Predrag Samardjiski are all poised to suit up in their third EuroBasket in a row.

Marko Simonovski, a member of the 2011 side but missed out in 2013, returns to the national team this summer.

Meanwhile Aleksandar Kostoski, Vladimir Brckov and Stojan Gjuroski, who made their senior level debuts at EuroBasket 2013 and followed them up with appearances in the 2nd Qualification Round last summer, have also been included in the roster that travels to Zagreb.

The youngest member of the team is 20-year-old center Ljubomir Mladenovski, who averaged a tournament double-double in July's U20 European Championship Division B.

"Our goal in every game is to play to the maximum, throughout all 40 minutes," said head coach Marijan Srbinovski.

"Each victory of this team would be a success and if we qualify for the next round it would be a phenomenal success.

"We will try to win every game, but if we examine our chances objectively we need to beat the Netherlands and then try to secure another win in order to advance.

"If we do not play with 120 percent intensity on defense then this will not be possible."

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (MKD) play their Group C opener against Greece on Saturday and will then face the Netherlands, Croatia, Georgia and finally Slovenia.

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (MKD) final roster for EuroBaskert 2015: Vladimir Brckov, Stojan Gjuroski, Richard Hendrix, Vlado Ilievski, Aleksandar Kostoski, Ljubomir Mladenovski, Predrag Samardjiski, Marko Simonovski, Darko Sokolov, Damjan Stojanovski, Vojdan Stojanovski, Bojan Trajkovski. 

Go to eurobasket2015.org for complete coverage of EuroBasket 2015.

FIBA