Sacchetti: ''When the national team plays, there is more enthusiasm''

CREMONA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Romeo Sacchetti admits everything has gone according to plan in his four World Cup Qualifiers as the coach of Italy.

The players he has selected have not only performed well on the big stage, but captured the imagination of the sport's fans in Italy.

"We've played two games at home, one in Torino (Turin) and one in Treviso," he said to FIBA.basketball. "The answer of the fans has been fantastic.

"IT'S (WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS) GOOD FOR BASKETBALL BECAUSE THE NATIONAL TEAM, WHEN IT PLAYS, THERE IS MORE ENTHUSIASM." SACCHETTISACCHETTI

"It's important, home court advantage. That is important for the Italian players, the link with the fans.

"It's also important that the players have a good answer for the fans to work really well. Now we are going to play (Croatia on June 28) in Trieste and I think it will be the same thing."

Italy launched their campaign in November with a 75-70 triumph over Romania in Turin's PalaRuffini and then claimed an 80-64 victory at the Drazen Petrovic Basketball Center over Croatia in Zagreb.

Last month, the Azzurri improved to 4-0 in Group D with an 80-62 triumph over the Netherlands in Treviso and a 101-50 rout of Romania in Cluj.

"It's only four games," Sacchetti said. "Yes, we are happy, but we know we need more wins. We have the last two games (of the First Round) and after, we have to meet the other teams in the other part.

"We have Croatia in Trieste and after, the Netherlands. Then after (in the Second Round) we have Lithuania, Poland and Hungary (Lithuania have qualified while Poland and Hungary are good bets to advance with 2-2 records).

"It's not going to be easy, but the important thing is we have started the competition with a good feeling and new players."

"I AM A FORMER PLAYER OF THE NATIONAL TEAM AND I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO PUT THE ITALY JERSEY ON.” SacchettiSacchetti

Italy have had some terrific performances from players that were champing at the bit to represent their country.

One has been leading scorer Amedeo Della Valle, who said in an interview with FIBA.basketball that "the credit goes to the coach because he puts us together and gives us confidence."

"The first thing I say to my players is, 'I chose you because I want you to play in the Italy team with your skills. I don't want you to change your style of play' because if not, I'd choose someone else," Sacchetti said.

"I want my players to do what they do best."

Sacchetti always demands the maximum on the defensive end. He doesn't want players to let up at all, even if they're in danger of getting into foul trouble.

"Maybe when you play in a team and you are one of the main one or two players, then you don't play defense like you should because you may get another foul," he said. "But I tell my players, 'You have to play tough because behind you is another great player.'"

Unbeaten Italy have been superb in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers

Doomsayers feared Italy could struggle without NBA stars Marco Belinelli and Danilo Gallinari, and others, in the World Cup Qualifiers.

Veterans Alessandro Gentile and Pietro Aradori, who featured in November, did not play in the February window due to injuries. Italy still won.

"THE CHEMISTRY OF THE TEAM IS IMPORTANT. ALSO IMPORTANT IS THAT ONE PLAYER DOESN'T COUNT THE SHOTS OF THE OTHER PLAYER. WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THE VICTORY. BUT WE HAVE PLAYED FOUR GAMES, AND NOT A SEASON." SacchettiSacchetti

"I'm not surprised because this is a really good group," he said. "We have some players to take 15 to 18 shots and other players that maybe take two shots.

"The chemistry of the team is important. Also important is that one player doesn't count the shots of the other player. What is important is the victory. But we have played four games, and not a season."

Sacchetti doesn't want his players to get carried away with their unbeaten start. He knows that in international basketball, things can go wrong in a hurry. Romania, for example, won at Croatia on February 23, 58-56, but returned home and crashed a few days later by 51 points to Italy.

The early evidence suggests that Italy have as good a chance as any team to reach the 32-team World Cup in China. More than reaching the tournament, the Qualifiers have opened the national team door to new players and the sport has increased visibility. When Italy play, it's always national news.

"I am a former player of the national team and I know what it means to put the Italy jersey on," he said. "That's important."

The Qualifiers look to be providing a real boost for the game in the country.

"It's good for basketball," Sacchetti said, "because the national team, when it plays, there is more enthusiasm."

FIBA