Brazil’s Volleyball Team Stumbles in Olympic Debut, Falling to Italy After 28 Years of Winning Starts

After 28 years, the men’s volleyball team debuted in an Olympic Games with a loss. Brazil started Paris 2024 by losing to Italy, the current world champion, at the South Paris Arena this Saturday, by 3 to 1 (25/23, 27/25, 18/25, and 25/21). Coach Bernardinho’s team will return to the court against Poland, the world ranking leader, on Wednesday. The coach did not want to comment on the debut and only spoke to the media that pays for the broadcasting rights to the tournament.

The Brazilian team was coming off a streak of six consecutive victories in their Olympic debuts. There were two wins against Australia, two against Tunisia, one against Egypt, and one against Mexico. The last defeat in the first match had been to Argentina at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics.

At least, Brazil won one set. This matters because this Olympic tournament has a new format. The first stage comprises three groups with four teams each— at Tokyo 2020, there were two groups with six teams. The top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed teams will qualify for the quarter-finals.

— We made many mistakes at crucial moments, especially in the first set. We were four or five points ahead, and we managed to lose. Then in the third set as well. If we play at this level like this, we have to lose — analyzed Leal at the end of the match regarding the set where Brazil was dominant. — But I also think this is the first game, we need to stay calm. But yes, losing 3 to 1 can obviously hurt, right? Now we need to beat Poland 3 to 1, 3 to 0, or lose 3 to 2, to at least get a point, right? (a loss by 3 to 2 gives one point). We need to stay strong and aim for Poland.

And depending on qualifying based on third-place criteria is risky. On Wednesday, Coach Bernardinho’s team will face Poland (on Tuesday, Italy will face Egypt).

Poland has faced Brazil 43 times since 2006, with the Brazilians holding the advantage: 26 wins to 17. However, in the last ten matches, the Poles have won seven. The European country also triumphed in the finals of the World Championships in 2014 and 2018, in the semifinals of the 2022 World Championship, and in the final stage of this year’s Nations League. In the Olympics, this will be the first matchup since Brazil’s victory of 3 to 0 in Beijing 2008.

Brazil is in Group B, which includes the three teams that have won the last nine editions of the World Championship (since 1990): Brazil, Italy, and Poland.

Darlan, who debuted in the Olympics, was the highest scorer of the match with 25 points. And while commenting on the milestone, he was “super honest”:

— It was half bad because they won the game. It doesn’t matter if I score 25 or 50 points and lose. I prefer to score one point and win the game — declared Darlan, who said he felt calm in the Olympic debut: — I’m fine, we always play against these teams and let’s say, it was just another game. Unfortunately, we made many mistakes, and this championship is not for mistakes.

For him, the match against Poland needs to be approached with patience, despite the pressure the team is under in the competition.

The last two encounters between Brazil and Italy, one of the biggest classics in men’s volleyball, went to the tie-break, with Brazil winning the Olympic qualifier in 2023 and Italy winning this year’s VNL, both in Rio. In the Olympics, Brazil has victories in the finals of Athens 2004 and Rio 2016, as well as in the semifinals of Beijing 2008 and London 2012. But this Saturday, in a packed house with a crowd divided between the two teams, Italy avenged their losses.

In a fiercely contested first set, Brazil led the score for most of the time but Italy came back with two blocks at the end. The Brazilian team also had a chance to tie at 24 to 24, but Darlan was blocked and the set ended 25 to 23. Italy was better at blocking.

In the second set, when Italy made it 15 to 13, following an attack ball from Darlan, one could feel the atmosphere of rivalry between the teams. Both squads gestured at the main referee. But since there is no challenge for the player’s touch after the block, Brazil did not even sacrifice a request. A little tap from Lucarelli put Brazil back in the fight in the set, reaching the 23rd point (23 to 24). But at the decisive moment, Brazil faltered again. A service error from Flávio and the team lost the chance to close the set. Italy took no time and made it 27 to 25.

Brazil fought for the third set and struck two consecutive blocks. They dominated the set and achieved 25 to 18. In the fourth set, Brazil made many mistakes and saw their rival sprint ahead in the score—Italy closed it at 25/21.

Brazil started with: Bruninho, Darlan, Lucarelli, Leal, Lucão, Flávio, and Thales. Italy started with Giannelli, Romanò, Michieletto, Lavia, Russo, Galassi, and Balaso.

The volleyball matches of Paris 2024 are being held in a temporary arena set up in a pavilion for 10,200 people, and lacking any charm. This is in stark contrast to the competition venues of other sports, including beach volleyball, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.