Slovenia U20 vs Italy U20

Italy opened the game with intent, leveraging their size advantage through Jason Nistrio (211cm) and Riccardo Crestan (198cm) in the paint. The Azzurrini built a working lead in the opening quarter and extended it to double figures by half-time.

Slovenia — coached by Dejan Radosavljevic — responded after the break. Led by captain Lovro Bolhar and guard Luka Zdravkovic, the hosts tightened defensively and cut into the deficit, pulling within striking distance in the third quarter. But Italy's depth told in the final period. Stefano Trucchetti (Pesaro) and Matteo Accorsi (Virtus Bologna) steadied the offence, and Italy closed the game with composure at the free-throw line.

The final scoreline of 66-58 reflected a game that was tighter than the margin suggests, with Slovenia's fightback falling short in the last five minutes.

Italy's response to Slovenia's third-quarter surge decided the game. After the hosts had trimmed the lead to single digits, Italy coach Alessandro Rossi called a timeout that reset his team's defensive structure. The Azzurrini forced three consecutive turnovers in transition, converting them into fast-break points that rebuilt the cushion to 10 points entering the final quarter. Slovenia never got closer than seven thereafter.

Stefano Trucchetti (Italy) — The Pesaro guard was the game's standout offensive player. His three-point shooting in the first half gave Italy early separation, and his ball-handling under pressure in the fourth quarter killed the clock effectively.

Lovro Bolhar (Slovenia) — The Sencur playmaker and captain carried Slovenia's offence through the middle quarters. His energy on both ends kept Slovenia within touching distance.

Jason Nistrio (Italy) — At 211cm, the Orange1 Bassano centre dominated the glass. His presence altered Slovenia's driving lanes and gave Italy precious second-chance opportunities.

The 66-58 final score points to a defensive-minded contest. Italy's eight-point win came despite a modest offensive output, suggesting their defence — not their shooting — was the difference-maker. The Azzurrini's ability to limit Slovenia to 58 points, particularly in the second half after Slovenia's push, indicated a well-drilled defensive system that Rossi has installed since taking over. Slovenia, by contrast, will be encouraged by their competitiveness against the reigning European champions but will need more consistent scoring across four quarters.

This was the first of two scheduled friendlies between these sides ahead of the FIBA U20 EuroBasket 2026, which tips off in Ljubljana on 11 July. Italy, coached by Alessandro Rossi, enter the tournament as defending champions after winning the 2025 edition in Greece — their first title since 2013. They are drawn in Group A alongside Germany, France and Turkey.

Slovenia, hosting the tournament, are in Group D with Romania, Israel and Czechia. The two sides meet again in a second friendly on 6 July before the tournament begins.

Italy's squad — reduced to 14 players after the Domegge Tournament with the arrival of Achille Lonati (St. Bonaventure) — will be cut to 12 for the EuroBasket following these friendlies, per FIP.

A useful test for both sides. Italy showed the composure of a defending champion, absorbing Slovenia's best punch and closing out efficiently. Slovenia proved they can live with elite opposition but need to sustain their intensity for 40 minutes. The return fixture on 6 July will tell us more about how close these sides really are.

No official match highlights video was publicly available at the time of writing.