The second qualifying phase for the 2023 World Cup begins. It does so this Wednesday, with Spain-Iceland in Pamplona, a match that can be followed live on Teledeporte (9:00 p.m.). In the new group, the National Team shares precisely with the Icelanders, and Italy, the best balance: 3 wins and 1 loss.
After its preparation phase, and just over a week before the start of the Eurobasket, Spain faces this Wednesday in Pamplona the first day of the second qualifying phase for the 2023 World Cup against Iceland. The Icelanders start this second phase with the same balance as Spain and Italy: 3 wins and 1 loss, carried over from the first phase.
The National Team met again in the capital of Navarra after closing its four friendly matches with a convincing performance against Lithuania in Vilnius, in a match in which Scariolo did not have Rudy, Willy or Llull. The minimal defeat conceded (78-76) left more than good feelings, which the team hopes to confirm in this duel against the Icelanders.
An almost unprecedented duel: Spain and Iceland have faced each other only once in their entire history. It was seven years ago, in the first phase of Eurobasket 2015, and the victory went to Spain (99-73). In the first phase, Iceland has lined up 18 players, some well-known in the Endesa League such as center Hlinason and point guard Hermannsson.
In this second phase -which will be completed in February 2023-, Spain is framed in Group L, in which it will face Iceland, Holland and Italy. The National Team starts in third position in the classification, which counts the results of the first phase, although only 4 of the 6 disputed, after the disqualification of Russia, which initially appeared in group H along with the Italians, Icelanders and Dutch. The top three finishers in the group will qualify for the 2023 World Cup.
The 12 players from Spain to face Iceland
Darío Brizuela, Lorenzo Brown, Rudy Fernández, Jaime Fernández, Usman Garuba, Fran Guerra, Willy Hernangómez, Juancho Hernangómez, Sergio Llull, Juan Núñez, Jaime Pradilla and Sebas Saiz.
Sergio Scariolo: “Iceland can put us in difficulties”
“We have completed some good days of work here in Pamplona, improving the physical condition of those who were worse off and the collective condition of the team. It still remains, but I think that, always within the possibilities we have and our limitations, we have taken some step forward. I am happy with the attitude that all the players have had these days.
We are facing Iceland, a team that can put us in difficulty due to its speed and ability to shoot threes and the presence of a very big player inside the paint who has already beaten Italy at the Window. We treat it with great respect.
Our set-up work for the Eurobasket continues. It is a double task. One is to compete, we have not dedicated much time to the specific preparation for this match, while we have dedicated more time to the work we have to do to be ready for the European Championship. We are very well positioned in qualifying for the 2023 World Cup and we would like to seal it as soon as possible.”
Jaime Pradilla: “A party to continue growing”
“It is a game that will help us to continue growing. They have a very big five and maybe in our team we don’t have such a big five. And they have players on the outside who can play from 1 to 4 in any position. It will be a difficult match. Playing here, in Spain, means that there is always that pressure of having to win. They come to compete, but they know that they come to compete against a powerful team”.
