Italy, Pozzecco’s 15 for the challenge with France
National team travels to Bologna for first of four luxury friendlies
With the Pinzolo training camp concluded today, the national team moves to Bologna, where on Friday, August 12, it will play against France (8:30 p.m., Unipol Arena live on Sky Sport Arena) the first of four luxury friendlies that should bring the team to the best condition ahead of the 2023 World Cup qualifying competitions and EuroBasket 2022.
Coach Gianmarco Pozzecco has reduced to 15 the athletes at his disposal for the challenge to the transalpines: Gabriele Procida and Matteo Spagnolo have been cleared to leave the gathering.
“Gabriele and Matteo,” Pozzecco commented referring to Procida and Spagnolo, “have their future ahead of them judging by their crazy talent, also confirmed by the NBA Draft. I thank them, and these are not words of convenience, for their commitment in these days and for confirming, after what their teammates and staff had told me, that they are also two good guys. It pained me to make these decisions in a context where things are proceeding in harmony, but it is inevitable. I don’t want to call them ‘cuts’ because the Azzurra adventure is a long one, spanning multiple competitions even throughout the year. All those who are not here today can be protagonists at the next opportunity in an expanded group perspective.”
After the match against France, the gathering will break to resume on the evening of Aug. 14 ahead of the departure for Montpellier scheduled for Aug. 15. On the 16th the second challenge to the transalpines (8:30 p.m., Sud de France Arena, live Sky Sport Action). This will be followed by a move to Hamburg for the Supercup (Aug. 19 against Serbia and Aug. 20 against one between Germany and the Czech Republic).
Before EuroBasket 2022 in Milan (Sept. 2/8), the two World Cup 2023 qualifying games are scheduled: Aug. 24 against Ukraine on the neutral site in Riga, Latvia, and Aug. 27 at PalaLeonessa in Brescia against Georgia.
The 15 Azzurri for France
#00 Amedeo Della Valle (1993, 194, G, Germani Brescia)
#0 Marco Spissu (1995, 184, P, Umana Reyer Venezia)
#1 Niccolo Mannion (2001, 190, P, Segafredo Virtus Bologna)
#6 Paul Biligha (1990, 200, C, A|X Armani Exchange Milano)
#7 Stefano Tonut (1993, 194, G, A|X Armani Exchange Milano)
#8 Danilo Gallinari (1988, 208, A, Boston Celtics – NBA)
#9 Nicolò Melli (1991, 206, A, A|X Armani Exchange Milano)
#13 Simone Fontecchio (1995, 203, A, Utah Jazz – NBA)
#16 Amedeo Tessitori (1994, 208, C, Umana Reyer Venezia)
#17 Giampaolo Ricci (1991, 202, A, A|X Armani Exchange Milano)
#25 Tommaso Baldasso (1998, 192, P, A|X Armani Exchange Milano)
#33 Achille Polonara (1991, 205, A, Anadolu Efes Istanbul – Turkey)
#54 Alessandro Pajola (1999, 194, P, Segafredo Virtus Bologna)
#70 Luigi Datome (1987, 203, A, A|X Armani Exchange Milano)
#77 John Petrucelli (1992, 193, G/A, Germani Brescia)
