Volleyball, Italy champion of Europe

by time news

The national volleyball team is European champion. Italy wins the 2021 European Championships, triumphing in the final against Slovenia 3-2. In Katowice the Azzurri prevailed at the tie-break with partials of 22-25, 25-20, 20-25, 25-20, 15-11.

Italvolley is European champion for the seventh time, the first since 2005. The continental tournament of the young blues (average age 24 years) is amazing and they close the continental tournament unbeaten with 9 victories in a row. The success of the boys of coach De Giorgi comes 15 days after the triumph of the women’s national team and completes an incredible summer for Italian sport: from the triumph of the national football team at the European Championships to the successes of Tokyo 2020 up to the epilogue with the continental double of the volleyball.

THE MATCH – De Giorgi started the race by deploying the usual line-up which includes the diagonal Giannelli-Pinali, Lavia and Michieletto the hammers, Galassi and Anzani the central ones with Balaso free.

First set started with the tricolor formation contracted and conditioned by some burrs in reception which influenced the development of the maneuver. De Giorgi at that point inserted Recine in place of Michieletto to improve reception. However, the Slovenians continued to play their orderly match, taking advantage of the many mistakes of the Azzurri, progressively increasing the advantage (16-13, 21-14) also thanks to the numerous errors in batting by Giannelli and his teammates. In spite of everything, however, the Azzurri got back down to -1 (23-22 Slovenia), but again an error in the service (7 in total in the partial) gave Slovenia the first set ball exploited to the fullest by an ace of Sket entered on purpose: 25-22 and 1-0 for Slovenia.

The second began with the Azzurri who had improved in reception, but still not able to accumulate a good advantage (11-10). Despite this captain Giannelli led his team in the most difficult moments until a new blue extension (18-14). In the final the teams remained in contact (22-20 for the Azzurri), but it was the block (5 in the partial) that was the fundamental thanks to which the tricolor sextet brought the situation into a draw thanks to the final 25-20.

Third set started immediately at a very high pace and with the Slovenians able to accumulate a first advantage (11-8) after the situation had remained in equality at the start (7-7). However, the Azzurri reception again showed signs of abating with De Giorgi who at that point played the Piccinelli card (debut for him in the event) giving Balaso minutes of rest. Just the free change propitiated the partial recovery of the tricolor sextet which first reached -1 (20-19) and then 20-20 thanks to an ace from Giannelli. Slovenia on +3 (23-20) with the decisive break until the final 25-20 again thanks to the Italian reception in evident difficulty. The Azzurri, for the first time since the beginning of the event, found themselves at a disadvantage.

In the fourth De Giorgi inserted Romanò in place of Pinali, but the Slovenians continued to exploit the conflict zones of the Azzurri defense phase; if we add that the serve in the initial stages was not as effective as usual, what resulted was a new Slovenian advantage (13-12). A good turn in Lavia’s service, however, suddenly reversed the course until 17-13 for the Azzurri and in the thriller finale a wall by Ricci (in the meantime) and a good turn in Romanò’s service brought the match to the tie-break. thanks to the final 25-20.

Tie-break immediately uphill (0-3), but Romanò in a competitive trance mended the tear (4-4). The blues, however, at that point became unstoppable: 11-7, 12-8 and triumph with the final 15-11.

Tomorrow the team will return to Italy (Orio al Serio airport, Bergamo) with a flight whose landing is scheduled at 8.25.

“It is an immense joy, a sought-after, desired victory, which came at the end of a really difficult match, in which the boys were able to suffer for long stretches, but never let go”, commented coach De Giorgi. “Tonight they showed that they are a real group, united that knew how to share and come together in the most difficult moment. The fact that whoever entered from the bench turned out to be decisive is the clearest testimony of my words: this is a truly group. splendid “.

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