Woe to the loser in the clash of the second and last day of the second round betweenSpain and Canada, as a candidate for the podium will simply be eliminated from the world Cupat the gates of the quarter-finals!
To best approach this decisive encounter, the Roja will be able to count on all the experience and all the genius of its historic coach, Sergio Scariolo. A man who also has a special love affair with the country with the maple leaf…
” The link is huge. Canada holds a very special place in my heart. I lived incredible years there, not to mention the fact of having won a title there », says the Italian coachNBA champion with the Raptors in 2019, when he was still assistant to Nick Nurse.
Live or die
Two years after leaving the NBA and Canadian soil to return to Europe, to Bologna in his native Italy, Sergio Scariolo therefore has the opportunity to play a very nasty trick on a nation that is dear to him. And at the head of which is a certain Jordi Fernandez… of Spanish origin!
” We occupy the same hotel, we spent several days together. Their coach is one of my friends, the same for their assistant “, Then specifies the coach of Spain, at least attached to Canada. ” Of course, it’s a game we want to win and they want to win too. They are a very good team and we will try to be just as good to compete. It’s time to get to work. »
Read also: For Jordi Fernandez, “Spain is a wounded animal”
On the same dynamic (defeat against Latvia and Brazil), Spaniards and Canadians no longer have the right to make mistakes in this World Cup, because any new defeat will henceforth be synonymous with elimination. Suffice to say that Sergio Scariolo is trying to prepare his players for what awaits them this Sunday and, potentially, for the next seven days…
” First, as always, we will have to focus on our strengths. Then, it will be necessary to look at the assets of the adversary “, he judges. ” trying to maximize [nos forces] and minimize our weaknesses. This is the 200th live or die game for me, but not for most of my players. I try to keep them focused and confident, I try to develop their focus on our game plan and develop their confidence in the chances of us fighting the right way. »
Canada favorite but Spain have experience on their side
On paper, Canada seem to be going one step ahead of Spain and Sergio Scariolo knows it. However, he believes in the chances of his team and he already wants his players to be irreproachable in terms of attitude.
” We will give 100% “, he warns precisely. ” This team is probably superior to us: physically, athletically, in terms of NBA experience, etc. But what we can control is to do our best. If that’s not enough, then you shake their hand and wish them good luck for the future… »
Nevertheless, Sergio Scariolo also wishes to recall that the Roja, certainly reigning world and European champion, cannot be expected as much as in the past. What evacuate a little pressure on the sidelines of this big meeting.
” It’s difficult, because our teams are facing a generational renewal », Explains the man with five international titles. ” It is true that we have outperformed during this process, but sometimes it can happen. That’s what happened for us, on an unexpected level, but honestly, any comparison with the teams of our legends is irrelevant. »
