Gianmarco Pozzecco, the head coach of Italy, has directed his team’s attention to themselves rather than their opponents as they prepare for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
Ranked 10th in the world, the Italian team, known as the Azzurri, is scheduled to play against Angola tomorrow, the Dominican Republic on Sunday, and the host nation, the Philippines, on Tuesday.
Pozzecco’s squad enters the tournament in excellent form, having triumphed over teams such as New Zealand, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Greece, Serbia, China, and Turkey this month. Despite this, the champion coach of FIBA Europe Cup 2019 wants his players to relish their basketball experience during the World Cup.
“Opponents may view us as an underdog before those games, but my players have done an exceptional job. In my view, they warrant this level of recognition,” said the 50-year-old native of Gorizia.
“I simply want them to continue enjoying and playing basketball together; then we will determine our standing in this tournament,” he said.
“The primary goal is for them to maintain the current style of play, which is really outstanding at the moment. They share the ball, support each other, and that’s what matters.”
Italy will launch their campaign tomorrow against Angola, ranked 41st in the world. On paper, Italy holds a strong advantage. The two teams clashed in the previous World Cup, with Italy prevailing 92-61.
However, Pozzecco is focused on the present and looks forward to another impressive performance from his team.
“While we respect all the opponents we’ll encounter, my perspective is that we should concentrate on our own basketball. We possess a strong identity, and of course, as I mentioned earlier, we hold Angola in high regard,” said the winner of the Italian Supercup 2019.
“My staff has thoroughly prepared for it. We have comprehensive knowledge about Angola, but the most crucial aspect of our basketball is that my players need to focus on executing our game plan. The identity of our opponents doesn’t matter.”
Ultimately, Italy is considered one of the favorites for a podium finish in the tournament. Despite their previous appearances, the team has never secured a medal, achieving their best placement with fourth positions in the 1970 and 1978 editions.
Pressure mounts for the Azzurri to significantly improve upon their 10th-place finish in 2019. Nonetheless, Pozzecco is striving to maintain a lighthearted atmosphere for his team, at least in the public eye.
“First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to the people of the Philippines. Their passion for basketball is remarkable. They treat us exceptionally well. However, starting today, I kindly ask everyone to stay home. Avoid unnecessary outings by car to minimize traffic. Go out only for essential reasons or work. Let’s not go out just for leisure. And, by the way, I’m eager to meet Manny Pacquiao. Please arrange that,” he joked.
