His career was complicated, especially from his defeat against the Dominican Republic in the first round, but theItaly is finally at the rendezvous of the quarter-finals of the World Cup 2023. A qualification finally logical given that she was the announced favorite of group A.
However, the volcanic Gianmarco Pozzecco showed himself a bit surprised when he came back to this Italian qualification at a press conference.
” Even my mother didn’t believe we could do it! », thus launched the transalpine coach, after the victory of his men against Puerto Rico. ” But from day one, I told my players to start dreaming. Then we could accomplish the best. And that’s what they did. »
If Gianmarco Pozzecco was not necessarily convinced of the success of his team, it was because Italy had not joined the Top 8 of the best nations in the world of basketball since the 1998 World Cup. later, a solid generation once again brought the Italian flag to the fore.
” We want to take advantage of the moment, because it hadn’t happened in the last 25 years. But we’ll keep dreaming “, added Giampaolo Riccithe best marker of Azzurri against Puerto Rico (15 points). ” It’s a huge achievement, we have one day to enjoy it and then we’ll re-focus and prepare for the next game. “, specified Nicolo Mellione of the locker room executives.
A unique accomplishment
For Gianmarco Pozzecco, however, it is useless to seek to draw parallels between the courses of Italy version 1998 and version 2023.
” There is no comparison between 1998 and today, it was completely different “, Judged the one who was precisely in the transalpine workforce during the 1998 World Cup. I have so much respect for everyone who’s played with me… But it’s nothing like it. What these guys achieved is completely different. Every country has improved, you can’t slack off against any team. »
Then the Italian coach to ignite again…
” What they have achieved you cannot compare to any other team in the history of Italy “, assures the 50-year-old technician. ” I was part of the team that competed in the 2004 Olympics in Athens and won the silver medal. But what they did… We didn’t. It was a completely different basketball. Yes, we had great results and everyone remembers us for that in Italy, but they achieved something more. »
The fact remains that to mark the history of their country definitively, the men of Gianmarco Pozzecco will have to win a medal this summer, the Squadra azurra not having climbed on an international podium since the 2004 Olympics, precisely. And in order not to leave this World Cup in Asia empty-handed, they will first have to get rid of a hell of a piece in the quarter-finals: the United States of a certain Paolo Banchero…
Photo credit: FIBA.com
