For two hours, on an evening in early September, Italian basketball fans have to continuously slap each other in the face and pinch themselves in order to stay in front of the television. On their screens, or in front of them in Berlin - in an arena where it feels like home - the women's national team plays on par with the US stars: they do it for a quarter, two, three, four, they stay ahead until 3' from the end and even there they don't collapse, despite losing 55-52. Capobianco's "amazing girls" come close to achieving the feat in a match of rare cohesion, of a team spirit capable of harnessing the opposing champions through tactical application and at the same time exalting their own. A phenomenal Cecilia Zandalasini who even has the chance to go to extra time: Italy loses, yes, but she already has the pass for the play-offs in her pocket and in 24 hours she will be back on the field with China to get there as second in the group. Confidence for the journey is high.
The Italians immediately took the lead with two baskets from Keys, they remained there for a few minutes, then the Americans extended their lead to 19-8, in a match characterized by many turnovers on both sides. The direction of the match seems clear, but this is not the case: the Italian wingers do a good job on Clark and Bueckers, limiting them, then Cecilia Zandalasini lights up and with three baskets (a couple in Stewart's face) wakes up her teammates - thanks to Verona and André - who bring the match back to -6. In the meantime, the defense switches to zone and confuses the Stars and Stripes attacks. A third dubious foul called on Zandalasini rules her out as a precaution from the end of the second quarter, but Italy doesn't go down thanks to Verona and Villa and goes into half-time trailing by just six points against a team made to appear less extraterrestrial than they are.
The second half opens with a champion's basket from Zandalasini, who however, like Cubaj, lacks the chance to further mend the situation with free throws. But this isn't what weakens the Italians, who continuously attack the rim and even take the lead back to 35-32 with trips to the line by Pasa and Madera and with support from André. Fassina and Pasa in penetration still give margin, but at the last mini-interval it is +3 United States.
A triple and two free throws from Santucci keep Capobianco's team attached, with Pan also putting them back ahead, again Santucci and Villa guarantee the lead while the defense does what it can. The Americans dig the furrow with a 7-0 partial, two points from Villa bring Italy back to -3 but in the last minute they don't score again: Zandalasini's triple for a potential equalizer doesn't come in, with the Italian star then apologizing after the match for his reaction against the referees.
"I'm a bit ashamed, I shouldn't have reacted like this - confesses the Italian star -. But I'm very happy with my team, and I hope that this match will be remembered for a long time despite the result. We started well without being mentally afraid, then it felt like we were playing at home. It's the best match I've ever played". "There is a lot of pride, because these girls, with a stratospheric Italian audience, have sent a clear message - interprets coach Capobianco -: that basketball is a wonderful sport, that it is played with the heart and with the head, that the tactical and technical part also depends on the autonomy that each player has".
"They are amazing girls, but allow them to be human, because playing against an incredible battleship like Team USA is really difficult", concludes the coach. Nonetheless, they managed to hold their own for 40 minutes, and at the end the tears - confesses Santucci, were "of anger" at the failed triumph.
All fuel, and all certainties, which can only bode well for the future in the World Championship.
