Italy faces France in the quarter-finals, and the Azzurri seeks the achievement against Joubert and Fournier – OA Sport

There are just over 24 hours left, but the adrenaline is already starting to reach very high levels. The date is at 5:15 pm tomorrow, Wednesday, September 14 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin (Germany): Italian team Gianmarco Pozzico will challenge France in the quarter-finals of the European Basketball Championship 2022. To try to win a place among the top four national teams in Europe.

The Azzurri defeated fearsome Serbia Nikola Djokic 94-86 in the round of 16, once again proving themselves the “black beast” of the Balkans after having already beaten them last year at the pre-Olympic tournament in Belgrade, effectively kicking them out of the Olympics. Games in Tokyo. The performer of the evening was authentic Marco Speco with 22 points (high career for the Sardinian playmaker who will play in Umana Reyer Venezia next year), along with Nicolò Melli in good shape (21 points and blocks from the movie library on Jokic) and Simone Fontecchio always effective (19 points). Italbasket is therefore not afraid of anyone, least of all the trans-Alps that we now know so well after having recently faced them in a friendly match (France wins 77-78 dec at Unipol in Casaleccio de Renault and 100-62 in Montpellier). Niccolo Meli and his co-workers also want to avenge the redeemed defeat in last year’s Cinque Cerchi Review quarter-final, when Rudi Gobert pulled his team to a 75-82 success despite Italy managing to hold the game to the last seconds (Cockerel who only surrendered in the final against the greatest candidates in the United States).

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Namely, the center of the Minnesota Timberwolves – formerly Utah Jazz, NBA team – will play Simon Fontechio – the most impressive player (14.0 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, impressive numbers) From a really intimidating list of names that compose it. Along with Joubert, in fact, there is also the other NBA Evan Fournier (best shooter with 14.7 points per game) and also Euroleague players such as Vincent Poirier and Thomas Heurtel (7.2 assists, best passer) or Guershon Yabusele, who wears Camicita Blanca Vice European Champion for Real Madrid. However, Vincent Colette’s side suffered too much in the round of 16 to beat Turkey’s Ergin Ataman, and only managed to win in overtime 86-87 thanks to a Rudi Gobert double (20 points, 17). rebounds).

France is definitely one of the favorites to win the continental championshipbut on their way to the semi-finals (where the winner will meet Luka Doncic with Slovenia or Poland) they will have to deal with Azzurri by Gianmarco Pozzecco Who does not want to hit games in front of anyone: the challenge is wide open, Italy still with the ball in the wedges wants to amaze after the wonderful victory over Serbia and make the whole beautiful country dream.

Photo: fiba.basketball