ROME (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Italy will have a new coach once the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers get underway, the country's basketball federation (FIP) has announced.

Ettore Messina, who is leading the team at FIBA EuroBasket 2017, has informed FIP President Gianni Petrucci that he is to focus on working as an assistant coach on the bench of the San Antonio Spurs and therefore will be unavailable to lead the national side during the Qualifiers.

Messina returned to the helm of the national team for a second stint last year.

Looking to make their first appearance at a Summer Games since 2004 when they claimed the silver medal in Athens, Italy very nearly made it to Rio under Messina but lost in an overtime thriller to Croatia in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament Final in Turin.

Messina will lead the Azzurri at FIBA EuroBasket 2017 in Group B against Ukraine, Israel, Lithuania, Georgia and Germany.

According to a statement by the FIP, Petrucci will be looking in the coming weeks to identify Messina's successor.

The Italians' first game in the World Cup European Qualifiers will be at home in Group D to Romania on November 23. Italy will also face Croatia and a team that comes out of the Pre-Qualifiers in the First Round.

FIBA