Italy beat long odds in their amazing 86-84 triumph over Germany on Monday to stave off elimination from the European Championships.

Azzurri coach Carlo Recalcati and his players, big losers to Slovenia and France, stayed alive on Sunday by prevailing against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Sunday in Lulea.

		Italian players celebrate after beating Germany

They had to travel to Norkkoping for the game against the Germans, and that meant bed time for the Italian players didn’t arrive until the early morning hours.

In addition to a lack of sleep, shooting guard Gianluca Basile was prevented from receiving additional treatment for a thigh injury he picked up in Sunday’s win.

Somehow, though, the country that won the 1999 European Championships found the resolve to triumph against Germany, one of the best sides in the world who boasted the supremely talented Dirk Nowitzki.

“We went to bed at four o'clock in the morning and weren’t able to give Basile the therapy required, that is why this victory counts double for us,” said Recalcati.

“We didn’t sleep much and we felt this in our legs, we were tired but with the right determination,” said captain Giacomo Galanda.

Italian forward Nikola Radulovic (14 points), Galanda (16) and guard Massimo Bulleri (17) led the way in the scoring department.

Galanda scored an important bucket near the end and Bulleri, the Benetton Treviso guard who was the league’s top player last year, had four free-throws late to seal the win.

		Nikola Radulovic

“It is better to shoot free throws when you are in the lead rather than when you are two or three points behind,” Bulleri said. “Still, we want to continue to dance.”

German coach Henrik Dettman even praised the Italians.

"Italy have given a lesson not only to us but to the rest of the national teams on how a team needs to play and how a group has to be united," he said.

Italy now face Greece on Thursday, a side looking formidable after three straight wins in the group stage.

A win will not only give them a place in the semi-final but guarantee qualification for next summer’s Olympic Games.

“Greece are a very strong physical team, amongst the favourites to clinch the European title,” Recalcati said.

“I hope that we can recover in time to face Greece in our best condition.”

The Azzurri were beaten by Greece earlier this summer while preparing for the championships but didn’t have guards Bulleri and Basile due to injury.

“They beat us in August but we did not have Bulleri and Basile that I hope to recover in their top form for Thursday,” Recalcati said.