SAITAMA, Japan, Sept 2 - An injured Pau Gasol is confident his Spanish team mates can overcome Greece without him in Sunday's world basketball championship final.

The Memphis Grizzlies forward fractured a metatarsal in Spain's 75-74 semi-final win over Argentina and left the arena in a wheelchair.

"I will try to do what I can for my colleagues but what really hurts is that I will not be physically on the court with them to do my part," Gasol told reporters on Saturday.

"I am confident the rest of the team can go on to complete the job without me. If they go on to take gold I will not be able to contain myself."

Gasol added: "I am sad but delighted we made the final. We have to enjoy this moment and be positive."

Spain have never won a major international title but their chances of making history against Greece suffered a serious blow when Gasol went down heavily late in Friday's semi-final.

Spain's key player has led the team's charge through the tournament with 21.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

Gasol called on his team mates to step up against a Greece team who shocked tournament favourites the United States 101-95 in the other semi-final to match Spain's perfect 8-0 record in Japan.

"We have nothing to fear from Greece," the 26-year-old NBA all-star said. "We just need to believe in ourselves because we are great team who deserve to be in the final.

"A gold medal around my neck would relieve all the pain I am suffering now."