Serbia face Italy in U20 EuroBasket round of 16 after three group wins

Serbia won all three group games at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket. The team will now play Italy in the round of 16 in Ljubljana on July 15 at 18:30. One loss ends the tournament, so the earlier wins do not guarantee anything in this match.

Serbia beat Latvia 89-66, Lithuania 79-57 and Poland 84-67. Italy had a more difficult group stage. The defending champions lost to France and Germany. They then beat Türkiye 71-67 and reached the round of 16.

Serbia won all three group games

Serbia finished first in the group without a close result. The team won every game by at least 15 points and scored at least 79 points in each match. Serbia beat Latvia by 23 points. Lithuania scored only 57 points against Serbia, and Poland also lost by a clear margin.

The three games gave Serbia useful experience. The players competed on consecutive days, used different line-ups and faced several types of defence. That experience can help them adjust to Italy more quickly. It cannot guarantee victory, but it gives the team familiar problems to solve. Serbia scored 252 points in the group, while their opponents scored 190. Italy scored 191 points, while their opponents scored 219. The records are different, but the knockout match starts at 0-0.

Nikola Dzepina leads Serbia's attack

Nikola Dzepina produced Serbia's best numbers in the group stage. He averaged 17.7 points and 8.7 rebounds, with an efficiency rating of 23.7. He scores near the basket and competes for rebounds. He can also make a useful pass when the first attack does not create a shot.

Italy will try to stop Dzepina before he receives the ball near the basket. They can use physical contact and send a second defender toward him. Serbia need the other players to keep moving and offer passing options. A player can move behind the defence, or Serbia can pass quickly to the free side. Both choices can create an open shot before the second defender arrives.

Italy arrive after a difficult group stage

Italy lost 67-53 to France and 85-67 to Germany. The team then beat Türkiye 71-67 in a close game. That win put Italy in the round of 16 and gave the defending champions confidence before the match with Serbia.

Italy needed to win their final group game, so the players already know this pressure. They may try to score near the basket in the opening minutes. They will also fight for every rebound and may use fouls to stop fast attacks. Serbia must match that effort without rushing. The first five minutes should reveal Italy's plan.

Defensive rebounding can control the pace

Serbia must collect the rebound after good defence. If Italy collect an attacking rebound, they can try to score again. A defensive rebound lets Serbia attack before Italy are ready. It also prevents a second Italian shot and saves Dzepina and the other forwards from extra defensive work.

All five Serbian players must help with rebounds. The smaller players must collect balls that travel far from the basket. Another player must help when a tall teammate moves out to challenge a shot. Good rebounding will let Serbia choose between a fast attack and a slower one. Italy prefer a slow game with strong physical contact.

Serbia must choose good shots

Young teams often shoot too early in knockout games. Serbia do not need to make that mistake. The players should first create a clear advantage. They can attack a defender who is late, find a favourable match-up or pass to an open teammate.

Serbia must also protect the ball. A bad pass can give Italy an easy fast attack before Serbia can defend. Careful play does not mean slow or passive play. Each pass should have a clear target, and players should dribble only when it improves the attack. Enough space between teammates will make every passing option clearer.

Substitutes will matter in the final quarter

The busy schedule in Ljubljana makes recovery important. Serbia need help from the substitutes so the main attacking players have energy in the final quarter. A substitute does not need to score many points. Good defence, one secure rebound and one careful attack can help the team.

Italy face the same physical demands, but they may use fewer substitutes after a difficult group stage. Serbia can test the Italian starters by moving the ball and keeping a steady pace. If those players defend several actions in every attack, they may become tired in the final quarter.

A close finish requires simple roles

If the score is level near the end, Serbia need a simple attacking plan. Dzepina can attract defenders near the basket. His teammates can then choose a pass, a drive or a screen to create an open shot. They must not stand still and wait for one player to take a difficult shot.

Timeouts and free throws will slow the game. Serbia's instructions must remain short and clear. Every player must know who protects the basket after a missed shot and who defends the player with the ball. The team must also know how the next attack will start. Clear roles help young players make quicker decisions.

The quarter-final place must be earned again

Serbia won the top division of the U20 European Championship in 2007, 2008 and 2015. The country also won the Division B tournament in 2022. This history does not decide the next game. Serbia need the same patient attacks, team rebounding and controlled pace that brought three group wins.

The winner will reach the quarter-finals, but Serbia should think only about Italy. The players must defend each attack and protect the ball on the next one. They must remain calm if Italy score several points in a row. Every possession needs the same clear roles and careful decisions.