Volleyball, Italy-Brazil 3-2! Michieletto Maracanazinho’s nightmare, De Giorgi turns it around with Bovolenta and Porro

Italy-Brazil 3-2, like at Sarrià in 1982. And if at the time Paolo Rossi did everything in Barcelona, this time it is a multi-signature victory. The first is that of Michieletto, the “usual” top scorer, as decisive as and more than the other pool matches. But also Porro and Bovolenta, the youngsters launched on the pitch by De Giorgi in the most difficult moment. And of course Anzani, whose experience came in very handy in the frantic final. Fourth victory out of four for Italy: the Olympics are really close now.

Brazil-Italy, difficult start for the Azzurri

Azzurri on the pitch with Giannelli as setter, Romanò as opposite, Anzani and Russo as central players, Lavia and Michieletto as spikers, with Balaso as libero. But the first set is all Brazil’s. Darlan, Leal and Lucarelli slice up the Italian wall and the first part of the match turns into a green and gold monologue, to the delight of the wild Maracanazinho fans: 25-17. Everything changes in the second half. This time it is Italy that leads the way, dragged by a Michieletto world size. There is no story: 25-15 for the Azzurri and the score is 1-1.

Bovolenta, Porro and Italy’s great final

The third set was very balanced, where Brazil first ran ahead (16-10) and then suffered the reaction of Italy. We arrive point by point at the excited final, but Brazil wins (25-22). Here we go again and De Giorgi continues to focus on young people. Bovolenta and Porro push Italy into the fourth set, dominated and took home with a reassuring 25-17. Then the tie-break, also played point by point and won 15-13, with the yellow card due to a hasty call from the referee at the end contested by Bernardinho and the Brazilians. Italy wins with 22 points from Michieletto, 10 from Bovolenta, 9 from Porro and Anzani.

Italy second in the ranking, Olympics one step away

Thanks to the 3-2 against the Brazilians, Italy gains another 3.59 points in the ranking, consolidating second place globally: it would give the certainty of being seeded in the Paris groups. The Volleyball Nations League will now return in two weeks with the pool in Ottawa, Canada. These are the appointments:

6 June: France-Italy at 2
June 6: USA-Italy at 10.30pm
June 7: Cuba-Italy at 5pm
9 June: Italy-Holland at 5pm

These are the commitments of the third and final pool in Ljubljana, Slovenia: