All is set for Week 3 of the Volleyball Nations League, which will see the Italian national team compete from Wednesday, July 15th to Sunday, July 19th in Osaka, Japan, for the stage preceding the Finals, scheduled for China. With the first two weeks of competition behind them (opening in Canada, Week 2 in Slovenia), De Giorgi’s Italy is now preparing for Week 3, where the Azzurri will face, in that order, Japan, Belgium, Argentina, and Cuba.
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The 14 players who will take to the field in Japan have also been announced: compared to the Week 2 roster, the changes concern Simone Giannelli, Roberto Russo, Pardo Mati, Yuri Romanò, and Fabio Balaso, who have replaced Paolo Porro, Lorenzo Cortesia, Leandro Mosca, Kamil Rychlicki, and Domenico Pace, respectively.
The overall standings currently see Japan in the lead (20 points, 8 wins), followed by the United States (19 points, 6 wins) and Poland (17 points, 6 wins); Italy is tied with Ukraine (16 points, 5 wins each) in fifth place.
The complete 2026 VNL standings
The 14 Italian players for Week 3
(Teams in parentheses refer to the 2025/26 season).
Setters: 6. Simone Giannelli (Sir Susa Scai Perugia), 8. Riccardo Sbertoli (Itas Trentino).
Middle hitters: 14. Gianluca Galassi (Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza), 18. Giovanni Sanguinetti (Valsa Group Modena), 19. Roberto Russo (Sir Susa Scai Perugia), 20. Pardo Mati (Valsa Group Modena).
Spikers: 9. Francesco Sani (Rana Verona), 12. Mattia Bottolo (Cucine Lube Civitanova), 15. Daniele Lavia (Itas Trentino), 17. Luca Porro (Valsa Group Modena).
Opposite hitters: 16. Yuri Romanò (Fakel Novy Urengoy – RUS), 23. Alessandro Bovolenta (Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza).
Free hitters: 4. Gabriele Laurenzano (Itas Trentino), 7. Fabio Balaso (Cucine Lube Civitanova).
Week 3 schedule
All the Azzurri matches will be broadcast live on DAZN and VBTV. All game times are Italian time.
Week 3 (Osaka, Japan) – Pool 9
Wednesday, July 15, 12:20 PM
Japan vs. Italy
Thursday, July 16, 8:30 AM
Belgium vs. Italy
Saturday, July 18, 12:20 PM
Argentina vs. Italy
Sunday, July 19, 8:30 AM
Cuba vs. Italy
