WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL B - GREAT BRITAIN VS ITALY

March 8, 2026

Francisco Cervelli

Daikin Park

Team Italy

Postgame Press Conference

Italy - 7, Great Britain - 4

Q. Let's say that during the first part of your assignment was completed. You guys were coming in to have options in the tournament, when it comes to advancing. How are you now preparing for the end of the part of the pool, when it comes to facing Mexico?

FRANCISCO CERVELLI: First of all, we're happy to have this victory. We also know that anything can happen between the top three teams. We've been working hard against every team. We've been able to accomplish our plans now.

Facing Mexico next, anything can happen. We are going to take a day off. But against the U.S., we're also going to come with everything we've got.

Q. Could you tell me more about how have you been able to help D'Orazio, which today he does a great performance and the receptiveness that he had, knowing that both of you're Venezuelan and Italian, how have you been a strong tower for him?

FRANCISCO CERVELLI: It's easy because I was in his shoes. I've gone through that. And there's things about that's sorts of tournaments that people don't know.

He just got here. He only had two games in. He was bearing into other pitchers, he was bearing into our plays, our throws. If he probably missed a ball or didn't block it or didn't hit it, no one noticed because he had home runs today.

But those are games that have happened that I've been through, that both sides have been through. But the good thing is that he came to the sage and performed well.

Q. (Indiscernible) the dynamics it's over the top.

FRANCISCO CERVELLI: Could you repeat that? That part, yes, the players are getting better. They're getting to know each other more and more. So chemistry is building in a short span of time. Now we are getting to know our personalities. And just like I said in our previous interviews, it's not about loving each other but having each other's back.

Q. What's the message of the team going into the match-ups with U.S. and Mexico? And how can you beat those teams?

FRANCISCO CERVELLI: The only way we can beat them is playing baseball. We've got to play and try not to make mistakes. They know we know that we can play.

We're going to prepare the game like the others, and we're going to go to the field and just play hard and follow their plan. The plan is -- we've got a lot of numbers. We've got a lot of things but this is a short tournament. We don't have to do things beautiful; we just have to score runs and win.

Q. Just how important is it to get Vinnie going at the plate for these last two games?

FRANCISCO CERVELLI: It's important. He's a big man in the lineup. I'm not worried about him. He's going to show up. He's going to show up. He's going to keep being third in the lineup. I'm not going to move that guy. He knows what he's got to do. He's one of the best in the big leagues. He's going to come back.

Q. Obviously the team has depth, many players from the Major Leagues. It was kind of surprising to see the amount of pitchers in the bullpen. Even last year, in 2025, there were players in the Major Leagues being part of the team. But now, do you have an established or a specific pitcher for teams that could be a tough opponent today?

FRANCISCO CERVELLI: Well, our closer is the one you saw today, or Nicolas even. It depends on how many throws they have, if it was a short time, like within hours. It's many things, many variables.

But the good thing we've been having that we have on our favor is there's a lot of players from the Major Leagues, Manny Machado and Dan Altavilla. Anyone can show up. But now it's whoever finishes the game.