Pozzecco ejected against Bosnia: Italy without its head coach

Gianmarco Pozzecco had a difficult evening during the third pool game of EuroBasket 2025. The Italian head coach was ejected at the beginning of the third quarter in the game against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Limassol, Cyprus, leaving his players without their coach at a crucial moment in the game.

🇮🇹 ❌ Gianmarco Pozzecco was ejected in the Italy vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina game for stepping onto the court to complain to his players .#Eurobasket pic.twitter.com/MaAe7M0Z8j

— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) August 31, 2025

Two technical fouls for the same violation

The Italian coach’s ejection resulted from two technical fouls called for the same reason: illegal positioning on the court. The first penalty came during the second quarter, right after Simone Fontecchio’s basket that made the score 33-27 for Italy. This technical foul gave Bosnia a free throw, which they immediately converted.

The second technical foul was called at the start of the third period, just after John Roberson’s 3-pointer brought Bosnia within 45-46. Pozzecco, once again outside his designated technical area, was definitively sent off. Roberson made the awarded free throw, tying the game at 46.

Casalone takes over in a tight game

Edoardo Casalone, Pozzecco’s assistant (and Poupet at ASVEL), immediately took command of the Italian team. Bosnia took advantage to take the lead thanks to Alibegovic’s 3-pointer (49-46), putting Italy in trouble at a key moment in the game.

Fortunately for the Azzurri, Simone Fontecchio woke up at the right time, scoring five consecutive points to give his team back the lead (51-49). Despite the Bosnian counter-attack led by Alibegovic and Atic (51-54), Italy responded with an impressive 13-0 run, orchestrated by Spissu and Fontecchio, to definitively take control of the game (64-54). This ejection illustrates Pozzecco’s temperament.