2nd set, 11-14: Michieletto struggles
Today Alessandro is not managing to show his usual volleyball dominance, also because the Japanese wall defense reads him really well. Italy still messy in reception, Miyaura unstoppable.
2nd set, 8-12: Italy now has a good block
Giannelli exalted himself in blocking Otsuka, future spiker for Allianz Milano, then Romanò continued his excellent second set with a good hand-out. However, the fact remains that the Japanese national team is playing very, very well even with the B team.
2nd set, 7-8: Galassi factor
Two consecutive blocks, an excellent first half and now it is the center back who is the key player for Italvolley. Japan still remains the undisputed master of the game, with a sensational wall defense.
2nd set, 5-5: Romanò goes up with shots
Yuri now tries to drag all his teammates along, completing two long rallies with perfect hands-outs on the messy Japanese wall. The opposite Miyaura has had a good start so far, having already scored 9 points.
2nd set, 3-2: Azzurri always chasing
Now the Japanese blocking defense is truly incredible, with Italy suffering in reception, making a lot of mistakes in serving (6 errors so far) and not even finding quality in blocking.
1st set, 25-23: Italy down 0-1, Japan very good
Nishida enters to bomb the serve, Romanò sends an important diagonal shot into the net and then Kai closes with a hands-off which gives the Japanese national team the lead. The Azzurri’s attack was very limited, the reception was also bad.
De Giorgi: “Virtuous path in 2 years, here are our secrets”
1st set, 22-21: Japan ahead
Pipe from Kai after another lopsided reception from Lavia and then De Giorgi changes: Daniele out, Porro in to wake up the national team a little. Italy at 15% efficiency in attack…
1st set, 7-7pm: very open period
Phase characterized by many serving errors – four in the last six exchanges – but Japan is making itself appreciated much more for its quality in defense and attack. Italy which, until now, lives on individuality.
1st set, 16-16: so much confusion among the Azzurri
Very, too much, messed up rallies and De Giorgi stops the game: “We are fully in the game, we are having the opportunities and we must have the determination, without losing peace of mind“. These are the words of the Italian coach.
1st set, 14-15: Italy suffering
In attack it is very difficult to put the ball on the ground for the Azzurri, who are now also starting to suffer a little from the Japanese jump-float serve. Lavia is not at his best for now, but the central defenders are doing well.
1st set, 11-13: Japan sensational at times
Despite having to chase – and despite a very important turnover – coach Blain’s national team is really defending everything and even manages to undermine the Italian wall defense. 4 blocks anyway for the Azzurri, two of which made by Russo.
1st set, 8-11: Lavia breaks the deadlock
Daniele is holding up well in reception, but until now he had always been defended in attack. Here he manages to free a good deep diagonal and put Italy back ahead with a good margin.
1st set, 6-8: the Japanese return
3-0 halftime for the Rising Sun team, with Yamauchi also very attentive in his central options; already a show of all-round defense for Japan, which continues with a particular turnover.
Michieletto: “Italy has grown a lot, De Giorgi is fundamental”
1st set, 3-7: blue break, Japan timeout
Michieletto makes a great ace in the 1-6 conflict zone, then Russo blocks Otsuka from second in the net and coach Blain stops the game, because he already wants to review something with his players.
1st set, 2-4: good start for the teams
Fukatsu was already spectacular in his one-handed raises, while Michieletto opened with the deep diagonal and then went on to commit a foot invasion in the following rally. Giannelli instead prints the first block and Italy finds the break point.
There is a lot of turnover for Japan however
Coach Blain rests, at least initially, Nishida and Sekita, instead fielding: Fukatsu, Miyaura, Otsuka, Kai, Yamauchi, Evbade-Dan and Ogawa (free).
The Azzurri’s initial 6+1
Coach De Giorgi does not change anything compared to the two previous matches: Gianelli, Romanò, Lavia, Michieletto, Galassi, Russo and Balaso (free).
Key challenge for world ranking
Since the third (Japan) and fourth (Italy) strengths in the FIVB rankings are facing each other respectively, there are so many points up for grabs. If the Azzurri were to win 3-0 they would earn 10.06 points; in case of success 3-1 they would take it 7.56 and triumphing in the tie-break 5.06. However, be careful of negative results, which could be costly: -9.94 points if Japan wins 3-0; -7.44 points in case of 3-1 Japanese; And – 4.94 points if the Italians were defeated in five sets.
An overview of Japan, today’s opponent
For years, one of the strongest and most complete national teams in the world, the Japanese team offers a very particular game, with very strong attacking balls and a great defensive attitude. Strengths definitely the opposite Yuji Nishida (seen in the Super League in Vibo Valentia) and the setter Masahiro Sekitawhile the former Monza player was not called up for this stage of the VNL Ran Takahashi. He has been Japan’s coach since 2022 Philippe Blaina coach who had already held the role of assistant from 2017 to 2021. Below are the players called up for the Japanese team:
- Setters: Akihiro Fukatsu (#3), Masahiro Sekita (#8)
- Spikers: Masato Kai (#15), Tatsunori Otsuka (#5), Kenta Takanashi (#7), Shoma Tomita (#11)
- Central: Larry Ik Evbade-Dan (#23), Taishi Onodera (#2), Kentaro Takahashi (#10), Akihiro Yamauchi (#6)
- Opposites: Kento Miyaura (#4), Yuji Nishida (#1)
- Free: Tomohiro Ogawa (#13), Tomohiro Yamamoto (#20)
Friends of Eurosport, fans of great volleyball, warm greetings and welcome back to the direct writing of Japan-Italy, the Azzurri’s third match in the 2024 Volleyball Nations League. A match that will be played at the Maracanazinho in Rio de Janeiro, the iconic venue of the Brazilian city, capable of hosting almost 12,000 spectators. The journey continuesItalvolley by Fefè De Giorgi towards the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The national team can only access the Olympic tournament via the FIVB world ranking: the ranking, which will officially close on 24 June, currently sees the Azzurri at 4th place with 350.70 points and a good margin over the direct pursuers. In front of Italy there is precisely the Japan3rd with 351.82 points, but Italvolley wants to give continuity to the great successes (both 3-0) already achieved against Germany and Iran.
Giannelli: “Italy is a family, we don’t set limits”
The Azzurri called up for Week 1 of VNL 2024
- Setters: Simone Giannelli (#6), Riccardo Sbertoli (#8)
- Spikers: Daniele Lavia (#15), Alessandro Michieletto (#5), Luca Porro (#31), Francesco Recine (#3)
- Central: Simone Anzani (#17), Gianluca Galassi (#14), Roberto Russo (#19), Giovanni Sanguinetti (#11)
- Opposites: Alessandro Bovolenta (#23), Yuri Romanò (#16)
- Free: Fabio Balaso (#7), Gabriele Laurenzano (#28)
The complete Italvolley calendar in the VNL 2024
Week 1 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
- May 22, 2024: Germany – Italy 0-3 | LIVE-BLOG | REPORT
- May 24, 2024: Iran – Italy 0-3 | LIVE-BLOG | REPORT
- May 25, 2024: Japan – Italy 7.00pm
- May 26, 2024: Brazil – Italy 3.00pm
- 6 June 2024: France – Italy 02:00 am
- June 6, 2024: United States – Italy 10.30pm
- June 7, 2024: Cuba – Italy 5pm
- June 9, 2024: Italy – Netherlands 5pm
Week 3 (Ljubljana, Slovenia)
- June 19: Italy – Poland at 8.30pm
- June 20: Bulgaria – Italy 4.30pm
- June 22: Slovenia – Italy 8.30pm
- June 23: Türkiye – Italy 4.30pm
Bosetti: “Italvolley, we’re going to Paris to get a medal”
