The appointment is July 2nd, the venue Puerto Rico. Italy is chasing the Olympic dream in the qualifying tournament which can give them a pass to Paris 2024 and which would be another great achievement for the Italian group. The Azzurri begin a long march of preparation towards an important appointment and that he certainly won’t see Italy in the role of favorite for the five-ring pass.
Italy: friendly against Spain on 25 June
There FIP has announced the matches that the Azzurri will face to better prepare for the tournament scheduled in Puerto Rico. The training camp is scheduled in Folgarida from 14 to 21 June with the first friendly match to be played in Trento against Georgia. Then immediately challenge Spain in Madrid on 25 June. The Azzurri leave Italy towards Miami the following day and then on the 29th there is the transfer to San Juan. The debut match in the tournament which qualifies for Paris is scheduled for July 2nd against Bahrain, then the match against the home team on the 4th, while the semi-finals and finals are scheduled for July 6th and 7th.
- Italy-Georgia June 23rd at 7pm – Trento – friendly match
- Spain-Italy 25 June – Madrid – friendly
Pre-Olympic Tournament
- Italy-Bahrain July 2nd at 11.30pm – San Juan
- Italy-Puerto Rico July 4th 2.30am – San Juan
Belinelli pulls out: “I have other priorities”
Marco Belinelli withdraws from the national team, he does it with grace and kindness but also with very clear words. “I’m happy to hear my name associated with the national team, but we have to be honest – he told Discovery – in the national team there is a good group already created, so I don’t know if my presence could bring something positive or negative. At the moment there are other priorities in my life, not that the national team isn’t one because I’ve always had the blue in high regard, but I’m the father of two little girls and after a very long season I need rest, being with my team. family. I have to start training again and then start the season with Virtus”.
Italy decimated by injuries
It won’t be easy for Gianmarco Pozzecco being able to put together the right group capable of winning the Olympic pass. In the last few weeks, injuries have taken some important players away from the Italian coach. The latest case in chronological order concerns Matteo Spagnolo who will have to undergo an operation that will keep him out for around 4 months. The same period of stoppage also applies to the other young Italian Gabriele Procida who will instead have to undergo an operation on the patellar tendon of his left knee. The hope is to be able to at least recover Simone Fontecchio, but the Abruzzo native also had to deal with an injury that prevented him from playing the final part of the NBA regular season. Losing the Pistons winger would also be a huge blow for a national team that needs talent.
