MILAN (Italy) - FIBA EuroBasket 2022 co-hosts Italy announced on Monday that Amedeo Tessitori will replace Danilo Gallinari on their 12-player roster ahead of the start of next week's major tournament. 

The 34-year-old Gallinari suffered an injury last week and was ruled out of the upcoming EuroBasket on Sunday. Tessitori, who took part in the preparations and was cut only on Friday, was the logical choice for head coach Gianmarco Pozzecco . The trio of Nicolo Melli, Luigi Datome and Paul Biligha are the only remaining players from Italy's EuroBasket roster from five years ago.

Simone Fontecchio made a major tournament debut at senior level at last summer's Olympics and has become a key player for the Azzurri - averaging 19.3 points per game in Tokyo - and will play at EuroBasket for the first time.

21-year-old Nico Mannion is also set for a tournament debut with the talented point guard already becoming accustomed to the international stage as more responsibility will be expected to be given from playcaller Pozzecco.

Italy last won a medal at EuroBasket almost 20 years ago when they won bronze in 2003 and they begin their campaign for the current edition in Group C alongside Greece, Croatia, Estonia, Great Britain and Ukraine in Milan.

They defeated Ukraine on Wednesday to open the Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers and round out the August window by hosting Georgia in Brescia, on Saturday.

FIBA