Unless they are seen at the crosses of this Eurobasket, Sergio Scariolo will face Italy on Tuesday for sixth and last time (20.30 Spanish time). I should almost be accustomed to the sensations and feelings of measuring the selection of the country in which he was born (Brescia, 1961)but this time it will be special. The technician will leave his position on the bench in Spain when he finishes the championship and will set up to Real Madrid.
Of his past duels with the Transalpino team, Scariolo remembered a long time ago in a brand The most delicate moment: “The one of the hymnsbut I live it normally. In the end You are competing against a strong rival and tries to kill you. In basketball, even though I have friends on the other side, I am Spanish “.
Sergio Scariolo gives instructions during the match against Italy at the 2019 World Cup.
The coach acknowledged that facing the selection of his country is the ideal match: “I don't like playing against Italy, but when you're there there is nothing heartyou are only aware of the details of the party. For me, being Italian is not just when I put on the shirt of Spain and game against Italy. “
In basketball, even though I have friends on the other side, I am Spanish
For now, His balance of duels against Italy is unbalanced on the rival side: 3-2. The Italians won in the group stage of the Eurobasket 2015 (98-105) Although Spain took the title, in the return of a 2023 FIBA window (68-72) and a Friendly in 2024 (84-87). The two triumphs date from 2019 World Cup (67-60) in which the selection would be champion again and in the first leg of the aforementioned FIBA Window (84-88).
Reasons beyond basketball
Scariolo is not only linked to Spain through basketball, in which he has directed to the Baskonia twice, to Unicaja, to Real Madrid, with which it is close to starting a new stage, and the selection, in which it has been for 15 years. The coach married Former White Ares, they have two children (Alessandrothat he plays at the Palmer Basket Mallorca in First Feb, and Carlota) that they were born in Spain and the family residence is in Marbella.
Sergio Scariolo, sitting on the bench during the match against Italy at the Eurobasket of 2015.
The coach feels in his home both when he is on the coast of the Sun and when he returns where he was born. “It is much better to enrich yourself to feel more things than dwarf and feel only one. When I see the photo of my house in Brescia, I say: 'Host, from there I am'. But when I enter Marbella through the arch, I say: 'Host, I'm at home'. Why not?”he wonders.
You can feel Italian and, at the same time, feel Spanish when you wear this shirt. That denial that sometimes occurs between one neighborhood and another seems pathetic
So Scariolo claims the feeling of feeling several places because, in his opinion, “You can feel Italian and, at the same time, feel Spanish when you wear this shirt And you defend these colors. That denial that sometimes occurs between one neighborhood and another seems pathetic. I have personally learned to realize how ridiculous that spirit of division is that it seems to be up to the world at this time. “
