For Matteo Soragna, even without Danilo Gallinari, the national team does not have to change

“Our basketball, that has to be it,” Soragna said.

Former Italian national team player and now Sky Sport commentator Matteo Soragna spoke, interviewed by Sportal.it, about the start of the Eurobasket (live on Sky Sport and streaming on NOW from September 1 to 18).

The former Biella and Treviso player, among others, had his say on the huge absence, given by Gallinari’s injury: “Surely it can be, especially in the first days, a blow of a certain level, because of what Gallo represents for basketball and for that team. The Rooster is not replaceable because by technical characteristics and experience he does things that others can’t do. This is the heaviest blow from a psychological and technical point of view. Having said that, when the games start, we will have to find a way to be on the court without such an important pawn and the guys will do it because there will be someone who will take some of the responsibilities that Gallo had, maybe they will distribute them over more players, and it is an obligation to make sure that we find another balance.”

“Those who have experience, those who have already played so many games in the national team, those who have also won Euroleague like Gigi Datome or played a final like Nicolò Melli, they have an experience that I play forcefully transmit to others so when then on the court you need to do something, the players you look at are those, who have already lived certain experiences,” Soragna continued, stressing the importance of veterans on the team.

Then the former guard spoke about the path that the national team will have to take in round C and what Pozzecco’s men will have to focus on: “I think you have to approach the round the same way. It is logical that Greece has a potential that maybe others do not have however the team, as I believe it is obliged to do but as I also believe that Gianmarco is making it clear, this team must always play the same way. It cannot disregard a certain kind of attitude above all and so I think it has to be just the constant. Our basketball, regardless of the opponent, that has to be, I think that’s the way it is.”