Crunch Time in Manila

The world champion has fallen. A new title holder will now be sought at the 2023 World Basketball Championships after world and European champions Spain failed to make it to the quarterfinals. Eight teams are still scratching their hooves and would be only too happy to fill the vacant position. On Tuesday, however, the first teams will have to bury their hopes. We take a look at our Italy vs USA betting tips to see who will get the better of them in this quarter-final.

For the Italians, making it to the quarterfinals is already a big deal. So far, the Squadra Azzura have only made it to the semifinals of a World Cup twice, most recently in 1978 when they were playing in the Philippines, of all places. With a win on Tuesday, Gianmarco Pozzecco’s team could make history. Then the first ever World Cup medal would also be within reach.

However, the Americans are the clear favorites on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia. However, the NBA team did not enter the quarterfinals unscathed. Steve Kerr’s team is therefore beatable, but it must be said quite clearly at this point that the forecast between Italy and the USA must clearly go to a victory for the five-time world champions. Anything else would be almost a sensation.

For the Italians, it’s not just a place in the semifinals that’s at stake. A win is inevitable if they want to punch their ticket towards the 2024 Paris Olympics at the World Cup, as only the top two European teams at this tournament will make the jump directly.

Italy – statistics & current form

For several years, the Italians have lost touch with the world’s top basketball teams. The last time the Squadra Azzura was in a World Cup quarterfinal was in 1998 in Greece. At that time, coach Gianmarco Pozzecco was still active on the court. At that time, the squad finished sixth and probably won’t do so again this year. The longed-for first World Cup medal can only be won if Italy surpasses itself on Tuesday.

Through bereavement to a conspiratorial bunch

The team has become a conspiratorial bunch in the Far East. The grandfather of shooting guard Matteo Spagnolo, who is under contract with ALBA Berlin, passed away during the tournament. This circumstance has once again welded the entire team together. Perhaps it was this tragedy, of all things, that gave the Italians the momentum they needed ahead of the quarterfinals against the overmatched Americans.

In general, after the preliminary round and the loss to the Dominican Republic, one would hardly have expected the Italians to make it to the quarterfinals. In the main round, however, the victories against Serbia and Puerto Rico came and so in the end it was even enough to win the group with 4:1 victories. On Tuesday, however, the Squadra Azzura will face the toughest opponent of this World Cup so far and before the clash between Italy and the USA, the odds suggest that there could be a high handicap victory for the United States.

Nevertheless, the Italians will fight back with everything they have. Already, emotional coach Gianmarco Pozzecco is talking about a miracle. Anything more now would be an added bonus. If they fail to qualify for the Olympics, the goal is to secure one of the top spots to face more grateful opponents in the following qualifying tournaments and perhaps secure home field rights.

Predicted lineup of Italy:
Spissu, Tonut, Melli, Fontecchio, Ricci, Spagnolo, Polonara, Diouf, Severini, Procida, Pajola, Datome – Coach: Pozzecco

USA – Statistics & current form

It is quite astonishing that the United States has become basketball world champion only five times so far. On the other hand, they have won 16 gold medals at the Olympic Games. This shows that the importance of the US boys goes in the direction of the Olympics and the NBA, and that a World Cup only plays third fiddle. But if they have reached the quarterfinals and are already on their way to the Philippines, they want to win the gold medal.

Surprising defeat against Lithuania

Another indication that the World Cup is not above everything is the lack of superstars around Kevin Durant or Steph Curry. Nevertheless, it has to be said that Steve Kerr has a strong team at the start and that the defeat in the last main round match against Lithuania came as more than a surprise. But maybe it was just because the US had already booked their ticket to the quarterfinals before that match and the result was too secondary.

However, we are sure that the USA would have liked to win this match. After all, the 104-110 loss marked the end of a winning streak. Before that, the United States had celebrated nine wins in a row. 35 points of Anthony Edward were not enough for the victory, because Lithuanians as a team appeared much more homogeneous and only there lies the minimal chance of the Italians on Tuesday.

However, we think that the United States will not be duped again. We might even be tempted to predict a handicap win between Italy and the USA with a difference of at least 16 points for Steve Kerr’s team. For that to happen, however, the defense will have to be much more stable and not allow their opponents to score well over 100 points again.

Predicted lineup of USA:
Haliburton, Bridges, Johnson, Ingram, Banchero, Portis, Edwards, Brunson, Hart, Jackson, Kessler, Reaves – Coach: Kerr

Italy – USA Direct comparison / H2H record

It’s been a long time since the basketball teams from Italy and the United States crossed paths. The last direct duel was in the 2006 World Cup, and there are only 14 duels in the history books. The direct comparison is, of course, a clear affair for the U.S., who are 12-2 ahead after victories.

The last Italian victory over the USA was 45 years ago. In 1978, the Squadra Azzura won 81-80 at the World Cup in the Philippines, so perhaps that’s a good omen for Tuesday’s clash. However, the Italian players will have to be told what happened back then at the Araneta Coliseum, because neither the players on the board nor coach Gianmarco Pozzecco, who was six years old at the time, were witnesses of the time.

Italy – USA Tip

Is history repeating itself on Tuesday? The last time the Italians won an international match against the USA was at a World Cup in the Philippines, of all places. However, that miracle was 45 years ago. The Squadra Azzura’s 4-1 win record this year is decent, but all their previous opponents were probably nowhere near the level of the United States.

That Steve Kerr’s team still suffered defeat was probably due to an outstanding day from the Lithuanians and a careless performance from the U.S.

Now, a handicap in basketball is always such a thing. It is not uncommon to use second-tier players when leading by a large margin and try something tactically. Safer is perhaps a bet on more than 178.5 points. That would not even be 90 points on average for both teams. We think that the US boys will win this match, and that’s why we combine a little bit and play betting odds between Italy and the USA on a victory of the United States with a total of more than 178.5 points.