ROME (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Italy will receive a boost in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers campaign with veteran forward Gigi Datome having confirmed his presence in the squad for September games against Poland and Hungary.

The news should lift the spirits of Italian fans with Romeo "Meo" Sacchetti's team having entered the recently completed third window with four wins in as many Qualifiers, only to then fall at home to Croatia and at the Netherlands.

"I WILL PLAY, I'VE TALKED WITH COACH MEO SACCHETTI. I THANKED HIM BECAUSE HE UNDERSTOOD THAT MY ABSENCE IN JUNE WAS NOT WITHOUT REASON, BUT THE NEED TO REST AFTER A LONG SEASON IN WHICH I HAD PLAYED MORE THAN 100 GAMES. NOW I'M GOOD AND VERY HAPPY TO WEAR ITALY'S NATIONAL TEAM JERSEY AGAIN."- Datome

Italy are still in a relatively strong position in their bid to reach next year's first-ever 32-team World Cup in China.

“I will play, I have talked with coach Meo Sacchetti”, Datome said to the Italian media. "I thanked him because he understood that my absence in June was not without reason, but the need to rest after a long season in which I had played more than 100 games. Now I'm good and very happy to wear Italy’s national team jersey again."

Gigi Datome to join Italy for September Qualifiers | Eurohoops https://t.co/PbvV4q6j6p

— Eurohoops.net (@Eurohoopsnet) July 10, 2018

In the Second Round of European Qualifiers, Italy are in Group J. They trail Lithuania (6-0) but are ahead of Poland, Netherlands, Croatia and Hungary, four sides that have 3-3 records.

Italy will host Poland on September 14 and then play at Hungary on September 17. 

FIBA