Big news is coming from the Philippines for the twenty-first edition of the Men’s Volleyball World Championship, which concludes tomorrow. It’s been a truly intense two weeks, with all the major teams thrilling the Asian crowd and beyond. There were plenty of dramatic twists and turns—just think of Japan, Brazil, and France being incredibly eliminated in the group stage—while Italy, after a slow start, has rebounded impressively with convincing victories against Argentina, Belgium, and especially Poland in the preliminary rounds.
While Giannelli and his teammates are the favorites seeking a historic repeat, the real surprise of this World Championship is Bulgaria, who, thanks to coach Blengini’s efforts, reached the World Championship final for the first time in their history. This achievement improves on their best result to date, a silver medal at the 1970 World Championships on home soil.
Bulgaria made a determined debut, beating Germany, Slovenia, and Chile, but their crowning achievement came in the quarterfinals, with a comeback against the USA, and in the semifinals against another surprise package, the Czech Republic. Now the doors to the final are wide open, with Rusi Zhelev, spiker and new signing from Banca Macerata Fisiomed, also set to compete.
