Reggio Emilia. Here we are. Tomorrow at the PalaBigi Italy will challenge Iceland again to win and earn mathematical qualification for EuroBasket 2025 with two games to spare. After the beautiful victory in Reykjavik (71-95), the Azzurri will only need to overcome the Scandinavians again to be certain of occupying one of the top three positions in group B. In the event of defeat, however, coach Gianmarco Pozzecco’s men will have to hope that the Turkey beat Hungary in the afternoon (+26 in the first leg). In the event that the Azzurri and the Turks were to lose, the qualification discussion would be postponed to February (Türkiye-Italy on the 20th and Italy-Hungary on the 23rd).
The 12 Azzurri have been chosen for the match: they will not be part of the roster Davide Alviti e Luca Severini. They will take the field Marco Spisso, Lady Sarr (making his debut in the National A), the Captain Nicolò Melli, Diego Flaccadori, Amedeo Tessitori, Giampaolo Ricci, Grant Basile (read his story here), Giordano Bortolani, Guglielmo Caruso, Michele Vitali, Riccardo Rossato e Nicola Akele.
Barcelona’s class of 2006 Lady Sarrtwo years ago with the Green Team for two friendlies in Spain, he will be the tenth debutant of the Pozzecco management after Leonardo Okeke, John Petrucelli, Luca Severini, Tomas Woldetensae, Riccardo Visconti, Davide Casarin, Riccardo Rossato, Federico Poser and Grant Basile. Sarr is the 24th youngest Italian ever to make his Senior debut at 18 years, 5 months and 21 days.
Tomorrow evening will be the third match ever at the PalaBigi in Reggio Emilia, the first official after the two friendlies against France in 2000 and Turkey in 1978, both won by the Azzurri.
The precedents against Iceland smile on Italy, who with the success in Reykjavik rise to three victories against just one defeat (in 2022 after two extra hours away at Hafnarfjordur).
At half-time the Silver Medal won by the Under 17 men’s national team last summer at the category World Cup will be celebrated.
The scores of the third day of Group B
Iceland-Italy 71-95 (12-27, 13-22, 29-16, 17-30)
Iceland: Steinarsson* 9 (3/4, 1/2), Henningsson 3 (1/1 da tre), Fridriksson* 15 (3/5, 1/6), Jonsson (0/1 da tre), Palsson K. 5 (1/2, 1/3), Palsson H.* 3 (0/4 da tre), Gunnarsson 7 (1/2, 1/2), Gudmundsson* 14 (3/4, 2/9), Hlinason* 15 (4/5), Thrastarson S. (0/1), Jonsson ne, Bjornsson (0/1, 0/1). All: Pedersen
Italy: Spissu* 10 (3/6, 1/3), Moretti 6 (1/3, 1/1), Tessitori* 6 (2/5, 0/3), Basile 19 (3/6, 3/8 ), Bortolani* 15 (5/7, 1/5), Vitali* 10 (2/2, 2/2), Rossato 7 (1/2, 1/2), Poser 4 (1/1), Severini* (0/1, 0/1), Alviti 5 (2/2, 0/1), Akele 13 (4/9, 1/2). All: Pozzecco
Two-pointers ISL 15/24, Ita 24/44; Three-pointers ISL 7/29, Ita 10/28; Free throws ISL 20/26, Ita 17/19. Rebounds Isl 30 (8 Hlinason), Ita 43 (10 Akele). Assist Isl 15 (4 Fridriksson, Gudmundsson), Ita 20 (8 Spissu).
5 fouls issued: None
Referees: Boris Krejic (Slovenia), Dariusz Zapolski (Polonia), Josip Jurcevic (Croazia)
Spectators: 2,000
Türkiye-Hungary 92-66 (27-20, 16-17, 19-12, 30-17)
Turchia: Hazer* 25 (7/11, 1/3), Saybir 2 (1/3, 0/1), Osman* 21 (5/7, 3/10), Arslan (0/1 da tre), Tunca 2, Haltali* 8 (4/7), Mutaf 7 (1/2, 1/3), Osmani* 17 (5/8, 2/3), Yasar (0/2), Yilmaz, Sipahi* 10 (1/3, 2/4), Koksal. All: Ataman
Hungary: Pongo (0/1), Keller 4 (1/2, 0/1), Hanga 3 (0/1, 1/4), Vojvodina 9 (4/6, 0/3), Varadi* (0/ 1 to three), Benke* 8 (1/2, 2/4), Bognar ne, Goloman* 11 (3/6), Lukacs ne, Perl* 16 (8/12, 0/1), Filipovity 5 (1/2, 1/5), Reuvers* 10 (4/7, 0/2). All: Okorn
