A bitter debut for the Italian basketball team under new coach Luca Banchi, who lost their first qualifying match for the 2027 World Cup in Tortona against Iceland by 81-76. A positive note was the surprise presence on the sidelines of non-playing captain Achille Polonara, who was greeted by a real ovation from the crowd in the stands.

Italy struggled for the first three quarters against a nearly full-strength Iceland, who even reached a 10-point lead during the match. The Azzurri responded in the fourth quarter, with Banchi's men turning the tables, led by Gabriele Procida's 16 points, Davide Casarin's 19, and Tommaso Baldasso's 13. However, a lack of focus and some critical free throw errors by Amedeo Tessitori and Amedeo Della Valle proved ineffective against an unstoppable Elvar Friedriksson. Iceland's number 10 played a near-perfect game, scoring 29 points, followed by 16 from center Tryggvi Hlinason and scoring the final nine points of his team.

Polonara, sitting on the sidelines next to the Italy bench, next to his wife Erika and president Petrucci, received greetings from all the players and members of the staff.

"My legs were shaking when I walked in, I was so excited," he told Sky. "It's the second day without a wheelchair, and that's already a success. I'm incredibly lucky to be part of this group, even though I couldn't be there this summer. If these kids are here today, it's because they're the best there are."

The Italian basketball team's next match is in Lithuania, where they'll have Nico Mannion available. It's a tough match for the Azzurri, who will need to react after the defeat.

(Unioneonline).