Carlo Recalcati

"If we want to reach the podium again, our team ethic has to be stronger than the others". After winning two medals in their last two events, Italy are no longer a surprise package: to combat the new pressure, Recalcati has chosen eight of the 12 silver medalists from the Athens squad, with the addition of sharpshooter Dante Calabria and rising stars Mancinelli and Gigli, both 22 years old.

In their last two competitions, the 2004 Olympic Games and EuroBasket 2003, the Azzurri have won two medals, a record that no other side in Europe can match. But coach Carlo Recalcati’s mantra remains the same: "If we want to reach the podium again, our team ethic has still to be stronger than the others. If not, we're a normal team, like all the others, able to beat anybody and that at the same time can be beaten by all the others". The words ‘team’ and Italy have become synonymous with success in the last 2 years. This will be no different in 2005 as Recalcati will be looking for the same type of team basketball that his side so successfully employed in 2003 and 2004, regardless of the results. Italy have consistently proved that you don’t need a team of NBA stars to win in international basketball. Team-work, heart, hustle and unity are the foundations of Italy under Recalcati, all of which comes without a huge insurance bill for NBA players…

		“	What the team needs I'll put into, regardless of the talent only	„
		Carlo Recalcati

Recalcati has made four changes to his Athens side, selecting players with no experience at the international level, but with a clear goal in mind.

		Dante Calabria

"I'll change the team only in the direction to have more athleticism and energy, and I'll make my decision taking care of the suggestion that will came from the team: what the team needs I'll put into, regardless of the talent only" said Recalcati. Now we can see the result. The two most exciting newcomers for the fans are Stefano Mancinelli and Dante Calabria. Mancinelli is the small forward of the future and he will be expected to do for the national team what he does for his club side, Fortitudo Bologna, be a factor off the bench. He played this role to perfection in the Italian play-offs, helping his side win their second ever Italian title. Mancinelli is an exciting player to watch, a high flyer who plays above the rim to give the fans a regular supply of dunks, alley-oops and blocked shots. But he can also provide a solid presence at both ends of the floor, sparking the offense with his ability to drive in transition or find open shooters, or on defense with his long arms which allow him to be an effective ball thief. Dante Calabria received his Italian passport in 2000, by virtue of his grandfather Giovanni, who moved from the south of Italy to the USA. After five seasons in Italy, and as the second best scorer of the last playoffs (14.7ppg), he has earned his chance with the national team. Years ago Tanjevic called him to the national team, but he refused for personal reasons, preferring to go to the NBA Summer League with the LA Lakers. Last year Recalcati asked him to be ready, but the call never came. This year, with Mancinelli replacing Nikola Radulovic, Italy’s naturalized player spot was freed up and Calbria was the best option to fill it. Calabria’s addition also allows Recalcati to travel with 2 points guards, as opposed to the three that were in Athens (Bulleri, Pozzecco and Romaldoni). Pozzecco and Bulleri will be in Serbia & Montenegro, and Recalcati will have the option of partnering either of them with Calabria or Basile to create a potent outside shooting threat. New addition Marco Mordente can also cover both guard positions, while the 209 cm, 22 year old Angelo Gigli rounds out the new faces in the Italian squad. Gigli has already been referred to as the “Italian Nowitzki” and he will get his chance to test that moniker in Italy’s opening game against Germany on day one of EuroBasket.

		Gianluca Basile

The main change for Recalcati and co in Serbia & Montenegro will be that they are no longer able to sneak up on opponents. In 2003, Italy were the side who were not expected to be able to compete after the loss of stars Gregor Fucka and Carlton Myers. Not any more. The 2005 Italian side, a combination of Recalcati’s creations Bulleri and Soragna, Tanjevic’s legacies Basile, Galanda, Marconato and Chiacig and the future Mancinelli and Gigli, go to EuroBasket with a clear goal in mind, a top six finish and qualification to the World Championship. Nothing else will do.