The EuroBasket does not weaken this weekend. We left for four new posters this Sunday and among them an enticing Serbia – Italy (to follow from 6 p.m. on Canal). Can the Squadra Azzurra calm down Nikola Jokic?
Two beautiful basketball nations, talent on the floor, a shock that smells of the classic made in the Old Continent, this Serbia-Italy has everything to please on paper. Obviously, all eyes will be on the broad shoulders of Nikola Jokic, reigning double MVP and monstrous since the start of the tournament. Driven by its NBA star (19.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 4.4 average assists in… 24 minutes) but also Vasilije Micic, the last MVP of the EuroLeague Final Four, Serbia rolled over the phase of hens. 5 games, 5 wins, 3 blowouts, the Serbs did not have to force their talent to reach the round of 16. In terms of confidence, our friends from the Balkans have therefore had their fill, but they have not yet been able to test their solidity once morest a somewhat tough opponent. It’s time to see what they are capable of once morest a team that, unlike Holland, is capable of hitting back. Note that this match might also take on the air of revenge since the Italians had deprived Serbia of the last Olympic Games by going to win the TQO in… Belgrade. The only slight difference is that a certain Nikola Jokic was not on the pitch at the time.
Always outsiders, never favourites, Italy remains a difficult team to analyse. We saw them beat Croatia, fall by a fraction once morest Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece, but also lose at home once morest… Ukraine. Such is a bit of the paradox of this team which is capable of the best as well as the worst. As we know, Italy knows how to excel in major events and being judged to be the loser by most experts will undoubtedly give them a boost of motivation when it comes to facing Niko and his friends. Without Danilo Gallinari, seriously injured during the preparation, the Squadra Azzurra relied heavily on Simone Fontecchio, his team’s top scorer with 19 points on average and a long shot that can break (42%). If the Serbs manage to calm him down, it’s not sure that the Italians will have the ammunition in reserve to fill the offensive gap, especially since they can no longer count on their public to push them.
ROSTERS
Serbia: Dejan Davidovac, Marko Guduric, Marko Jagodic-Kuridza, Ognjen Jaramaz, Nikola Jokic, Nikola Kalinic, Vladimir Lucic, Vanja Marinkovic, Vasilije Micic, Nikola Milutinov, Nemanja Nedovic, Dusan Ristic
Italy : Tommaso Baldasso, Paul Biligha, Luigi Datome, Simone Fontecchio, Amedeo Tessitori, Nico Mannion, Nicolo Melli, Alessandro Pajola, Achille Polonara, Giampaolo Ricci, Marco Spissu, Stefano Tonut
THE JOURNEY OF THE TWO TEAMS
Serbia – Netherlands: 100-76
Czech Republic – Serbia : 68-81
Serbia – Finland: 100-70
Israel – Serbia : 78-89
Serbia – Poland : 96-69
Italy – Estonia: 83-62
Italy – Greece : 81-85
Italy – Ukraine : 73-84
Italy – Croatia: 81-76
Italy – Great Britain: 90-56
Undefeated in the group stage, Serbia faces its first big test with Italy. Confirmation of the excellent form of the moment or early end of the course for Nikola Jokic and his friends? The answer at the start of the evening.