Italy came close to pulling off a major coup against France in the Nations League quarter-finals 2024 men’s volleyball, really coming close to overturning the predictions of the day before on the field of Lodz (Poland). Our national team in fact showed up with young players and second lines in the final acts of the prestigious international travelling tournament, but has seriously held his own against the Olympic Championsmanaging to take a 1-0 and 2-1 lead, only to then give in in the tie-break after a controversial episode (the ball was called out to Bottolo, but it had been touched by Brizard and De Giorgi did not call the challenge).
Italy had to bow out 3-2 (19-25; 25-20; 22-25; 25-22; 15-11), despite the absence of all designated owners: Simone Giannelli, Alessandro Michieletto, Daniele Lavia, Yuri Romanò, Gianluca Galassi, Simone Anzani, Roberto Russo, Fabio Balaso remained in Cavalese to prepare for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Azzurri lacked a pinch of competitive nastiness at the crucial moment, after having played a match of absolute technical depth and solid in all the fundamentals.
Director Richard Sbertoli he sent all his teammates into double figures: the opposite Alessandro Bovolenta (14 points), the spikers Mattia Bottolo (18 points) and Luca Porro (15), the central ones Leandro Mosca (15 points, 2 aces) e Giovanni Sanguinetti (10 points, 2 blocks). Everyone is trying to put CT Fefé De Giorgi in difficulty with a view to being called up for the Games, the five remaining shirts are being played for in addition to the eight already assigned to the men remaining in Cavalese. France was led by striker Jean Patry (28 points) and hammers Trevor Clevenot (20 points) and Kevin Tillie (15 points, 3 blocks).
THE MATCH REPORT
Italy raises the barricades in the initial part of the first set, the blocks of Sanguinetti and Porro are worth the break (7-5) followed by Porro’s mani-out for the +3 (8-5). The Azzurri maintained their lead with a good Bottolo (11-8) and then extended their strength thanks to two consecutive aces from Mosca, followed by a nice winner from Bottolo for 14-8. Italy is very fast, contains Patry and Sanguinetti scores a quality slash (17-9): you just have to manage but a superb Tillie and a good Patry allow the Transalpines to get closer (20-16). A winner from Bovolenta chases away the fear (22-17), then Bottolo’s winner and Sanguinetti’s shot to close the score.
The Azzurri’s determination can also be admired at the start of the second set: from 5-5 a three-point set opens up (Porro’s winner, Bottolo’s pipe, Mosca’s first timeout) to fly to +3 (8-5). Tillie takes care of mending the gap (10-10) and then in the body to body France manages to escape: first timeout and Le Goff’s block, interspersed with Patry’s ace, for 15-12. Tillie presses Bovolenta, Brizard scores on second intention and the Olympic Champions further extend the lead (17-13). Patry and Tillie prove unstoppable, Bovolenta and his teammates are unable to contain them and France evens the score.
Italy is good at leaving behind the technical decline of the second part of the previous set and in the third part it starts like a rocket: ace from Mosca, diagonal from Bottolo and winner from Bovolenta for the 7-4. Patry keeps France in his wake, but a winner from Porro and a block from Mosca allow the Azzurri to confirm the +3 (11-8). Bottolo stands out with a hands-out, Porro fires up in the pipe and Bottolo closes a winner from place 4 which is worth 16-11. The World Champions are in great form, Porro replies with a pipe and Sanguinetti seals the first half 18-13. Bovolenta drags the Azzurri with a diagonal and a parallel, but Patry and Tillie respond presently (21-19). The best Bottolo, author of two excellent winners, is needed to stem the Galletti’s comeback attempt (23-20). The final point belongs to the Porro family: Paolo raises, Luca closes and Italy flies to 2-1.
Balanced start to the fourth set, then a pushed ball from Bovolenta and a first half from Mosca allow Italy to gain a break advantage (10-8) strengthened by Porro’s ace (12-9). France responds promptly, taking advantage of an invasion by the Azzurri to then print an ace with Patry and a pipe with Tillie (12-12). Tillie presses Bottolo twice, in the middle Clevenot scores an ace and the Olympic Champions rise to 16-13. A block from Jouffroy on Mosca and a mani-out from Clevenot keep France ahead (17-20), Bovolenta tries but a diagonal from Patry and an error from Bottolo keep the French ahead (19-23). Sanguinetta’s first half and Recine’s block cancel out two set-points (22-25), but then Rinaldi misses the serve and it goes to a tie-break.
Italy gets off to a flying start in the tie-break: first half by Mosca, Bottolo with second intention, diagonal and whip from Porro for the 4-0. Mosca was ready with a hand-out after Clevenot’s diagonal and Le Goff’s block (5-2), the Azzurri remained ahead with Bovolenta’s hand-out (7-4). Shortly after the dubious episode that directs the match: Bottolo attacks and the ball is called out, but in reality it had been touched by Brizard, De Giorgi does not call the challenge, France shortens to 6-7 and then equalizes with the block of Brizard on Bottolo. The Azzurri go crazy: winner by Patry and block by Tillie (7-9). An error in service by the Transalpines and a hand-out by Porro restore parity at 9, then at 10-10 France runs away with three consecutive spells from Patry (13-10) and then closes with an ace from Tillie.
