Italy fails to achieve the feat and closes the Nations League journey in the quarterfinals, losing in the tie break (25-19, 20-25, 25-22, 22-25, 11-15) against the Olympic champions France, who despite being without Ngapeth who only entered for a few rounds to serve and in the second row (he is still recovering from a calf injury), can boast much more experience than the team brought by De Giorgi who has decided to give space to the Italian second lines. Now the coach will return to the gym with the team that is preparing for the Olympics. Two friendlies are scheduled for July 16 and 18 against Argentina in Florence and Bologna before leaving for Paris.
the match
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De Giorgi lines up Sbertoli-Bovolenta, Luca Porro and Bottolo as spikers and Sanguinetti and Mosca in the center with Laurenzano libero. Giani responds with Toniutti-Patry, Tillie-Clevenot and Le Goff-Seddik with Grebennikov libero. First set with the Azzurri playing with ease, setting up the wall well and immediately putting the Olympic champions in difficulty, more cumbersome and slow in maneuvering and having difficulty finding the measures. Sbertoli struggles to find the measures with Bovolenta but not with Bottolo. The Civitanova spiker immediately takes command of the Azzurri attack with 6 points. Good understanding also in the center especially with Mosca. In the second set the Azzurri drop especially at the wall allowing the transalpines dragged by Tillie and Patry to pass without great difficulty. Sbertoli serves Mosca a lot but the spikers drop and De Giorgi tries the double change card with Paolo Porro and Gironi to move the attack in position two but France closes. Italy returns to the field more determined in the third. Mattia Bottolo is still the protagonist with seven points and the Azzurri are attentive in reception. Giani in the meantime draws from the bench, replacing Toniutti with Brizard on several occasions. The Piacenza setter will then remain on the field definitively in the fourth and France finds more confidence in serving. Clevenot is excellent and Patry also finds more continuity with eight points. The Azzurri immediately find the right advantage and then manage. returns to the game in the fourth with Clevenot in great form and the Azzurri in difficulty in reception while the French wall rises inexorably on the attack of Porro and Bottolo. The tie break begins with a 4-0 Italian marked by Bottolo and Porro then Italy suffers the return of the French at the wall and with Patry who breaks the hands of the Italians. Ngapeth’s service turn is decisive, allowing the transalpines to overtake. The Azzurri are struggling but when Ngapeth finally makes a mistake the Azzurri return to the game with determination. It’s a very hot Patry who gives the decisive break to France who will face Poland in the semi-final.
