The Italy of Velasco and Egonu, of Sylla and Orro, but also of the new entries Degradi and Giovannini returned to the Nations League final two years later. But this semi-final dominated in Bangkok with Poland 3-0 (25-18 25-17 25-11) has a stronger flavor than that illusory victory in the summer of 2022 in which the Italians from Mazzanti they won the league and then opened their crisis at the World Cup. This clear, total victory is yet another confirmation of the work of Julio Velasco who in just over a month went from a stinging debut against Poland, a 3-0 defeat gained with little group experience and without most of the starters, up to the one-sided match in Thailand: 41 attacks against 32 , 12 blocks at 2, 3 aces at 2, 10 errors against 19 from the opponents. Unstoppable this time too Paola Egonu, 22 points with 2 blocks and 1 ace, but also the 11 points of Myriam Sylla and the setter’s 7s Alessia Orro (with 5 blocks) indicate a brilliant state of form within the team.
Furthermore, Poland is the team that snatched the Olympic pass from Italy in October, ending Mazzanti’s long adventure on the national team bench. After the 3-0 to the United States gold at the Tokyo Olympics, here is a second success that weighs and is worth the final on Sunday at 3.30 pm, against Japan who, when the Italians were already in bed, beat the favorite Brazil at the end of a battle : 3-2 (26-24 20-25 25-21 22-25 15-12).
Volleyball, the Italians at the Paris Olympics: Velasco’s plan works for Egonu and the new Italy
by Mattia Chiusano
June 14, 2024
Egonu: “We were a bit nervous”
“I’m happy, excited” says Paola Egonu at the end of the match. “I and all the others were a little nervous, but we managed to find our game. I’m happy with the result, we trained a lot physically and mentally, and this aspect kept us together”. Then a greeting to the fans in Italy: “I love you all”.
The wall of Danesi and Fahr
Velasco confirmed the sextet that beat the USA: Orro as director, Egonu as opposite, Sylla and Bosetti as spikers, Fahr and Danesi in the center, and De Gennaro as libero. Two plays over the opponent’s block by Egonu and the blocks by Orro and Fahr created the first advantage (7-5), strengthened by the block play (4 by Orro) and in the center of the Italian team, with Fahr and Danesi as protagonists, building the basis for the superiority of Egonu who closed an uneventful first set (25-18) and continued in the following sets with devastating diagonals, blocks, lobs and 50% efficiency in attack. The same percentage as Sylla, who transformed Degradi’s calls (taking over from Bosetti at the end of the first set) but also built excellent defenses. Italy also closed the second set easily (25-17), and then got rid of the third with a relentless Egonu, like Sylla and Degradi in attack, and Danesi in the center. Fahr was also there to place the shot from the center to make it 21-12 and the match point ace which Sylla converted into a block. A lesson in play for a team like Poland who had given us so much disappointment over the last year.
