World Cup Qualifying: Fixtures & Results

The Italian national basketball team is gearing up for a crucial FIBA World Cup 2027 qualifier against Iceland. Head coach Luca banchi has finalized his 12-player roster for the upcoming matchup, which marks his debut on the national team’s bench. The game is set to tip off on Thursday, november 27th, at 8:00 PM in Tortona, and it’s a must-win scenario for Italy to avoid an early stumble on their path to the global tournament.

To reach the final roster, Elisèe Assui, Leonardo Candi, Diego garavaglia, and Riccardo Rossato have been cut from the initial call-ups. Veteran Amedeo Tessitori will proudly wear the captain’s armband, stepping into a leadership role in the absence of Achille Polonara. Tessitori is expected to be a key figure, alongside other prominent players like Sasha grant, Stefano Tonut, Amedeo Della Valle, and Gabriele Procida. The squad also features four players making their first appearance in the national team colors: Francesco Ferrari,Matteo Librizzi,Luigi Suigo,and Luca Vincini.

Speaking at a press conference, Coach Banchi expressed his optimism about the team’s preparation:

“We come from productive days of work, and training in such a modern and hospitable facility has been beneficial.We absolutely need to maximize the time we have together, as it’s limited. I’ve found a great willingness among the players to build understanding and chemistry quickly. Our goal is to put our best foot forward. I can assure you there will be no shortage of spirit and determination, and we’ll aim to add quality to our play.”

Luca Banchi

Banchi further elaborated on the challenge ahead:

“We’re facing a team that is 9 out of 12 players the same as their last European Championship appearance and has had the same coach for 11 years. In short, our situations are different, but we will certainly be ready. This home game offers us extra motivation. We’re trying to strike a balance between immediate competitiveness and the future development of the group. I have 16 athletes available, and I can already confirm that Nico Mannion will join us starting Friday.”

Luca Banchi

Italy’s Roster for the Iceland Clash

Here are the 12 players selected to represent Italy:

• Amedeo Della Valle (guard, Brescia)
• Stefano Tonut (Guard, Milan)
• Amedeo Tessitori (Center, Venice) – Captain
• Gabriele Procida (guard/Wing, Real Madrid)
• Francesco Ferrari (Winger, Cividale del Friuli)
• Tommaso Baldasso (Guard, Tortona)
• Luigi Suigo (Center, Mega Superbet Basket)
• Davide Casarin (Guard, Cremona)
• Matteo Librizzi (Playmaker, Varese)
• Sasha Grant (Forward, Cremona)
• Luca Vincini (Wing/center, Sassari)
• John Petrucelli (Forward, Trapani)