Ferdinando De Giorgi’s Italy team has reached the final for the first time in the history of the Volleyball Nations League. Born in 2018 from the historic World League (which Italy won eight times), the Volleyball Nations League saw Italy finish just outside the podium in 2022 and 2023. The 3-1 semifinal victory over Slovenia, led by Fabio Soli, the future coach of Rana Verona, propels the Azzurri into the final match tomorrow at 1 p.m. against Poland, who defeated Brazil 3-0 in the other semifinal.
Michieletto, the Azzurri’s top scorer with 26 points, was decisive in today’s match, followed by Lavia with 14 points.
This will be the 90th match in the history of Italy and Poland, the last one dating back to the preliminary round of this edition of the VNL, with the Azzurri winning in a tie-break.
Italia-Slovenia: 3-1 (25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 25-18)
Italia: Giannelli 3, Michieletto 26 , Anzani 4, Rychlicki 11, Lavia 14, Gargiulo 7, Balaso (L). Romanò 9, Sbertoli, Galassi 7, Bottolo. Ne: Sanguinetti, Pace, Porro. All. De Giorgi
Slovenia: T. Stern 9, Planinsic 2, Kozamernik 10, Stalekar 9, Z. Stern 11, Mozic 13, Kovacic (L). Mujanovic 9, Krzic, Bracko 1, Najdic. Ne: Marovt, Sen, Okroglic (L).All. Soli
Arbitri: Cespedes (Dom), Simonovic (Sui)
Durata Set: 28’, 33’, 26’, 24’
Italia: A 9 Bs 17 Mv 9 Et 22
Slovenia: A 2 Bs 8 Mv 9 Et 16
VNL 2025 Tabellone Finals, Ningbo (Cina)
Quarti di Finale
Italia – Cuba 3-1 (25-18, 25-18, 20-25, 25-21)
Brasile – Cina 3-1 (29-31, 25-19, 25-16, 25-21)
Francia – Slovenia 1-3 (22-25, 25-15, 19-25, 18-25)
Giappone – Polonia 0-3 (23-25, 24-26, 12-25)
Semifinali
Italia – Slovenia 3-1 (25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 25-18)
Brasile – Polonia 0-3 (26-28, 19-25, 21-25)
Domenica 3 agosto – Finali
Ore 9.00: Finale 3°/4° Posto
Brasile – Slovenia
Ore 13.00: Finale 1°/2° Posto
Italia – Polonia
