Italian
ItalVolley defeats Belgium with a clear 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-18) and advances to the semifinals. On Saturday they will face the winner between Poland and Turkey
MANILA (PHILIPPINES) – On paper, this was supposed to be ItalVolley’s toughest match so far at these World Championships. But in sports, as in life, motivation is everything. Facing Belgium again — the team that had already beaten them in the group stage in a tie-break — could have been very dangerous.
However, Fefè De Giorgi’s team regrouped immediately, first defeating Ukraine to advance, then overcoming Argentina in the quarterfinals. Against Belgium, they produced a commanding performance, always in control, delivering a strong response to their only previous defeat.
Now, for the seventh time, Italy ranks among the top four teams in the world. On Saturday, September 27, at either 8:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. (Italian time), the Azzurri will face Poland (who defeated Italy in the VNL final) or Turkey. The match will be broadcast live on Rai channels and streamed on Rai Play, DAZN, and VBTV.
The Match
Coach De Giorgi confirmed the lineup from the Argentina match, with Giovanni Gargiulo in the middle alongside Russo, replacing Simone Anzani. Captain Giannelli set, Romanò opposite, Michieletto and Bottolo as outside hitters, and Balaso libero. Belgium, coached by Italian Emanuele Zanini, lined up D’Hulst at setter, Reggers opposite, Deroo and Desmet outside hitters, Coolman and Fafchamps in the middle, and Lantsoght libero.
Italy started strong, with precise serves and solid blocking, quickly going up by 5 points and gradually widening the gap to take the first set 25-13.
The second set followed the same pattern, with Italy leading 9-5 early on, extending to 23-15, and closing at 25-18. The third set was more contested, but Alessandro Michieletto’s powerful serves pushed Italy to a 14-10 lead. Russo then sealed the win with two consecutive aces, sending Italy to the semifinals.
The Reactions
Head coach Ferdinando De Giorgi:
“We played a very intense match, staying focused throughout. The serve was certainly one of the keys — today we served at a very high level. I think we missed only seven serves but scored eight aces, constantly keeping them under pressure. Our blocking and defense also worked very well. We made some adjustments compared to the first match, and they paid off. We were very efficient, and the team is growing match by match. This must give us more confidence and awareness of our potential. Even under pressure, we handled the situation well. It was a do-or-die match, and we approached it in the best possible way. As I said before the World Cup began: this is a special group. Special because they help each other, because they’ve embarked on a journey together, and they keep growing.”
Captain Simone Giannelli:
“I’m very happy with the way we played. We had lost to Belgium in the group stage, and they had put us in serious difficulty. But we knew we could raise our level, even though they had played well too. We were ready, focused, and prepared to play point by point. We managed the different phases of the match very well, staying composed even when ahead by several points. I’m especially satisfied with the third set, which could have gone differently, but we stayed on top of it and brought it home. That’s the mentality we want to keep until the end because the level will get higher, and this approach will help us. Being among the top four teams in the world again is a great source of pride. This tournament shows that one defeat isn’t enough to shake our confidence. We’re a team that doesn’t crumble, even if we prefer winning, of course. As long as the rules say we’re still in the game, we’re in the game — and we’ll keep fighting.”
Alessandro Michieletto:
“We’re overjoyed — we earned it, and we played really, really well again today. I think we can still grow, but now we’re in for a great semifinal challenge. Being among the top four teams in the world is what counts. We’ll play with all the calm in the world and the right amount of fun, because when we enjoy ourselves on the court, we become two or three gears stronger. There are still things we can improve, but today we showed we’re here. When matches get tough, they also get more exciting. In do-or-die games, great teams rise to the occasion — and a great team knows how to win even without being perfect. That’s what matters: we’re still here, among the best four, and we’re enjoying it.”
Scoreboard
ITALY–BELGIUM 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-18)
ITALY: Gargiulo 4, Giannelli 5, Michieletto 13, Russo 11, Romanò 7, Bottolo 11, Balaso (L). Not used: Rychlicki, Porro, Sbertoli, Anzani, Sani, Galassi, Pace (L). Coach: De Giorgi.
BELGIUM: Fafchamps 2, D’Hulst, Deroo 11, Coolman 6, Reggers 14, Desmet 6, Lantsoght (L). Also: Van Hoyweghen, Dermaux, D’heer, Plaskie, Rotty 1. Not used: Perin, Verwimp (L). Coach: Zanini.
Referees: Simonovic (SUI), Ovuka (BIH)
Set duration: 22′, 28′, 28′
Attendance: 2,906
Italy: 8 aces, 7 service errors, 6 blocks, 9 unforced errors
Belgium: 1 ace, 13 service errors, 1 block, 24 unforced errors
Tournament Bracket
Quarterfinals – September 24–25, SM Mall of Asia Arena
- September 24
- QF3 Match #60: Italy–Belgium 3-0
- QF2 Match #59: Poland–Turkey (2:00 p.m.)
- September 25
- QF1 Match #57: Czech Republic–Iran (9:30 a.m.)
- QF4 Match #58: USA–Bulgaria (2:00 p.m.)
Semifinals – September 27, SM Mall of Asia Arena
- SF1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF4
- SF2: Winner QF2 vs Italy
Finals – September 28, SM Mall of Asia Arena
- 3rd–4th place: Loser SF1 vs Loser SF2
- Championship: Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2
Photo Credits: Federvolley.it
