Pool 5 – Ljubljana
ITALY – POLAND 0-3 (22-25, 21-25, 22-25)
Italy: Recine 8, Sbertoli 1, Sanguinetti 2, Bovolenta 11, Mosca 2, Porro L. 11, Laurenzano (L), Porro P. 0, Cortesia 0, Gironi 3. Ne Bottolo, Rinaldi, Gaggini, Caneschi. All. De Giorgi.
Poland: Kurek 15, Leon 18, Śliwka 0, Kochanowski 3, Janusz 1, Bieniek 8, Zatorski (L), Komenda 0, Bednorz 0, Fornal 7, Bołądź 1, Huber 1. Ne Popiwczak (L), Kłos. All. Grbic.
Referees: Cespedes Lassi Denny Francisco (DOM), Dziewirz Scott (CAN)
Set duration: 25 , 26 , 26.
Italy: 1st, 17th, 2nd, 21st.
Poland: 2 a, 22 s, 8 mv, 27 et.
Of Alessandro Trebbi
LJUBLJANA (Slovenia) – There is still work to be done. It’s there for Ferdinando De Giorgicalled to make the final choices in view of Paris, with the dilemma of who to support Michieletto And Street which dominates everyone, the two most important changes in every formation and at the same time the least certain ones for the Azzurri.
There is still a lot to do especially for the Fivbwhich today saw the stands of the Stozice Arena of Ljubljana hosting less than 1000 spectators in total, yet Serbia and Cuba were still playing for a fundamental place at the Games and Italy and Poland today represent the best at the men’s level, even if ours were without many ‘big names’.
Can a sport that wants to elevate itself, put itself on a par with basketball and football, when basketball and football fill arenas and stadiums even for friendly matches, accept these numbers and these desolate photographs? Those who make comparisons ask themselves about the numbers? Does the nineties disco climate help? Does it affect? Why? Has the VNL become like the NBA thanks to the deejays, the cameras on the public, the games?
THE FOCUS – Clearly the two teams entered the field with different formations and objectives: Poland already with the idea in mind of testing the formation that will face the Vnl Finals at home and above all the Games as great favourites, with all the best; Italy with all the so-called reserves on the field to allow De Giorgi to let Giannelli, Lavia, Michieletto and Romanò catch their breath and at the same time make the final assessments on the squad he will bring with him to Paris.
The Poles were solid on one side, the Azzurri strong-willed on the other, with an excellent Sbertoli and the performance of Luca Porro, above the others, giving the spiker from Padua now serious hopes of being in the Olympic squad. Recine is more wavering, stubborn especially on difficult balls from the first and second line, while Bovolenta has a very alternating current, capable of excellent ideas but also of shots with his eyes closed and heavy blocks conceded. The central defenders were not very involved, another department in which Fefè will be called upon to prune. A team that in any case can reach the last step for the Finals. Meanwhile.
SESTET. De Giorgi starts with Sbertoli and Bovolenta as setter and opposite, Porro and Recine on the wings, Mosca and Sanguinetti at the center and Laurenzano libero. Grbic plays with the starters: Janusz and Kurek in the main diagonal, Leon and Sliwka, Bieniek and Kochanowski, Zatorski libero.
THE MATCH – As soon as Poland records the serve they immediately escape (6-9) with a dominant Leon. However, it is a working-class Italy, which tries, starts to raise the revs in defense and serving and finds the equalizer at 16, but Leon works high on Bovolenta’s hands with consistency (16-19). The Azzurri remain glued, also thanks to the round with Bovolenta at bat and Gironi on the front line, but it is still the Bovolenta-Leon duel that gives the Poles success 22-25.
Italy gets off to a better start in the second (8-5), Forlan is on the pitch for Sliwka, Cortesia also comes on for Mosca, but after forty minutes the lights go out, especially from nine metres. The substitutions begin for De Giorgi (in Porro and Gironi) but the set ends 21-25.
In the third, formations at the start with only Forlan on the pitch for Sliwka. Sbertoli finally blocks Leon (7-7) and Bovolenta recovers after a dull second set (15-14). Thanks to their defence, Italy stays ahead until 19-18, then Poland pushes the ball by blocking Bovolenta and counterattacking with Kurek until Bieniek reaches 22-25.
