Italy has achieved the feat par excellence of its competitive history and he wrote a memorable, unforgettable, indelible anthology page of Italian sport. Our national team is qualified for the men’s handball world championship, crowning a dream that seemed unachievable until a few years ago, realizing a magic in which very few chosen people would have believed. Too good to be true, almost enough to pinch yourself to really believe it: from 14 January to 2 February 2025between Croatia, Denmark and Norway, the boys of DT Riccardo Trillini will also be protagonists in the world championship.
Italy will play the World Cup for the second time in its history: the only precedent was dated 1997, when among other things they managed to beat Argentina and draw with Norway in the first group stage. The blues have defeated Montenegro 34-32 in the match of second leg of the third round of the playoffs, after the victory with six goals (32-26) obtained in the first leg match played three days ago in Conversano. Our players didn’t just manage the margin, but played with enormous personality in the match bedlam of the Moraca of Podgoricasilencing 6,000 very enthusiastic spectators who were not enough to drag the hosts along.
After beating Turkey in a thrilling first round (37-28 defeat away, 37-27 victory in Chieti) and after demolishing Belgium in the second playoff (29-25 and 33-31 successes), our Nazionale has completed the work. After 60 minutes of passion on Balkan soil, the Azzurri burst into tears and celebrated a memorable qualification for the World Cup that fills the heart with joy. And it doesn’t end here: the dream continues, the journey continues after starting from very far away and having fought tooth and nail to reach this Sunday 12 May, which becomes a milestone in Italian handball.
Umberto Bronzo and Simone Mengon they are the top scorers with eight goals each, six goals per Giacomo Savini and Andrea Parisini. Mikael Helmersson he finished with two goals, one goal each Gianluca Dapiran, Davide Bulzamini, Marco Mengon, Thomas Bortoli. The goalkeeper is impeccable Domenico Ebner (ten saves), in the second half there was also room for Andrea Colleluori between the posts. Among the ranks of Montenegro the best was Ruka Radovic (6 goals).
MATCH REPORT
The match starts off tough for Italy, as Pablo Marrochi gets injured after 3 minutes: in a tackle the centre-back hurts his ankle and leaves the field limping. Trillini is forced to redesign the formation, but the guests do not falter. Captain Andrea Parisini scores three of the first five goals for the Azzurri, then Giacomo Savini unleashes himself: deadly stone from distance and lunge of personality for the 7-5. Umberto Bronzo takes charge after the thirteen goals scored in the first leg and on the counterattack he scores 9-5, then Savini and Parisini are once again the ones who express themselves at their best in the offensive phase (12-7).
At that point Italy starts to struggle in attack, loses a few too many balls and Montenegro comes closer (12-11). Moraca gets hot, but Bronzo pushes the home team back with a shot from seven meters (13-11) and Thomas Bortoli is glacial with an invention from the wing. Bronzo is spectacular when he misses a penalty, but immediately gets the ball back and dives to make it 16-13, followed by Mikael Helmersson’s jab. The first half ends at 17-13, noteworthy are the seven saves by a sumptuous Domenico Ebner.
Helmersson opens the second half with the goal to make it 18-14, then Simone Mengon is spectacular in an action and invents the 20-17 by shooting at the near post. Bronzo takes advantage of his numerical superiority to score 22-19 after nine minutes, then Parisini and Simone Mengon (sublime whip from nine meters) pick up the pace again, flanked by a splendid Bronzo for 25-20. At that point Italy can really control the situation, also considering the six goal difference from the first leg. Montenegro has no more time to react and the Azzurri fly: invention by Savini, lob by Parisini, impeccable Bronze (30-27). The ending is totally manageable, our national team wins the match and flies to the 2025 World Cup.
