RIO DE JANEIRO. Debut with victory for coach De Giorgi’s Italvolley in the men’s Nations League.
At the Maracanazinho in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), the Azzurri defeated Germany, already qualified for the Olympic Games, 3-0. The partial scores in favor of the national team: 25-21, 25-18, 25-23.
For Fefè De Giorgi’s Azzurri, precious points in the ranking to get even closer to qualifying for Paris 2024.
So the first step has been taken, now let’s think about the next ones.
The run-up to Paris for men’s Italvolley started in the best possible way in Rio de Janeiro, Germany beaten 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-23) on its debut in the Volleyball Nations League but not without difficulties, showing tenacity in winning the third set where the Germans were ahead 23-19. It was the victory that was needed to break the ice and start this journey with the important objective of qualifying for the Olympic Games.
The 3-0 over the Germans is in fact worth a +5.15 in the ranking which sees Italy first among the non-qualified.
“We did well in the third set to turn the situation around – he confirms Simone Giannelli – We were good at staying there, playing, moving forward without losing the set, we were compact and we must carry this forward. We all need to start thinking together again about how to play volleyball well but it’s normal, it was the first match, winning is never a given, on to the next one. We have a mission, and we all know what it is, as such we know that it is not easy, we don’t take anything for granted, we will all have very tough opponents, we think one game at a time.”
HERE IS THE AZZURRI’S PROGRAM
Rio de Janeiro – Brazil
May 22: Germany – Italy (0-3)
May 24: Iran – Italy at 10.30pm
May 25: Japan – Italy at 7:00 pm
May 26: Brazil – Italy at 3pm
Ottawa – Canada
June 6: France – Italy at 2:00
June 6: USA – Italy at 10.30pm
June 7: Cuba – Italy at 5pm
9 June: Italy – Netherlands at 5pm
Ljubljana – Slovenia
19 June: Italy – Poland at 8.30pm
20 June: Bulgaria – Italy at 4.30pm
22 June: Slovenia – Italy at 8.30pm
23 June: Türkiye – Italy at 4.30pm
THE AZZURRE’S PROGRAM
Antalya (Türkiye)
14 May: Italy-Poland at 7pm [0-3]
16 May: Germany-Italy 1pm (3-1)
17 May: Italy-Bulgaria at 7pm (3-0)
18 May: Italy-Türkiye at 7pm (3-1)
Macau, China – Hong Kong, China
May 29: Italy-France at 10am
May 30: Dominican Republic-Italy at 06:30
1 June: Brazil-Italy at 6.30am
June 2: Italy-China at 1.30pm
Fukuoka – Japan
11 June: Italy-Canada at 12.20
14 June: Italy-Republic of Korea at 12.30
June 15: Italy-USA 8.30 am
16 June: Italy-Serbia at 8.00
Quarter-finals on 20 June and 21 June, semi-finals on the 22nd and finals on the 23rd.
