Week 1 of the Italian National Team engaged in the Volleyball Nations League 2025 ended with a 3-1 victory over Argentina. The first week of challenges, which saw Ferdinando De Giorgi’s Azzurri take to the field in Quebec City, Canada, brought the National Team three wins and one defeat. A balance that temporarily places Italy in fourth place in the provisional general ranking.
The complete VNL ranking
After the success in the debut against Bulgaria, Giannelli and his teammates repeated themselves by overcoming Germany in the tie-break. The only defeat, however, came 3-1 against France while the aforementioned triumph against Argentina closed the curtain on Week 1 of the Azzurri, who are now preparing for the second week of matches.
The complete calendar of the VNL 2025
In fact, from June 25 to 30, Chicago, in the United States, will be the venue for Italy’s challenges, which will have to face the hosts of the United States, Poland, China and Brazil. Furthermore, from Tuesday 17 June to Sunday 22 June, the National team will undergo a preparation period in Ottawa (Canada), facing the Canadian National team in two friendly matches.
For Week 2, five new athletes will take part in the competitions in the United States: Fabio Balaso, Gianluca Galassi, Daniele Lavia, Alessandro Michieletto and Riccardo Sbertoli will take the place of Domenico Pace, Simone Anzani, Francesco Sani, Francesco Recine and Mattia Boninfante.
Week 2 (Chicago, Stati Uniti) – Pool 1
Mercoledì 25 giugno 2025, ore 19.30
Italia – Polonia
Venerdì 27 giugno 2025, ore 23.00
Italia – Cina
Sabato 28 giugno 2025, ore 23.00
Italia – Brasile
Lunedì 30 giugno 2025, ore 2.30
Italia – Stati Uniti
I 14 convocati per la Week 2
(Le squadre specificate fanno riferimento alla stagione sportiva 2024/25)
Palleggiatori: Simone Giannelli (Sir Susa Vim Perugia), Riccardo Sbertoli (Itas Trentino).
Centrali: Giovanni Gargiulo (Cucine Lube Civitanova), Lorenzo Cortesia (Rana Verona), Giovanni Sanguinetti (Valsa Group Modena), Gianluca Galassi (Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza).
Schiacciatori: Mattia Bottolo (Cucine Lube Civitanova), Alessandro Michieletto (Itas Trentino), Daniele Lavia (Itas Trentino), Luca Porro (Sonepar Padova).
Opposti: Yuri Romanò (Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza), Kamil Rychlicki (Itas Trentino).
Liberi: Gabriele Laurenzano (Itas Trentino), Fabio Balaso (Cucine Lube Civitanova).
