Italy Wins Pool A of Men's European Championship After Thrilling 3-2 Victory Over Slovenia

The Italian national volleyball team showcased strong play today against Fabio Soli's squad, establishing their dominance. Despite losing the first two sets, Slovenia rallied to tie the match. However, Italy maintained control throughout the decisive fifth set, demonstrating composure in critical moments.

On September 18th, Ferdinando De Giorgi's team will travel from Modena to Turin, where the PalaVela will host the knockout phase. The round of 16 matches are scheduled for September 20th and 21st, followed by the quarterfinals on September 23rd.

For this match, the Italian coach opted for the Giannelli-Romanò setter-opposite pairing, with Lavia and Bottolo as outside hitters, Galassi and Mati at middle blocker, and Balaso as libero. Soli's lineup featured Planinsic at setter, Mujanovic as opposite, Stalekar and Kozamernik at middle, Sen and Bracko as outside hitters, and Kovacic as libero.

Italy started strong, taking an early lead with Bottolo scoring for 3-1. Romanò, set up by Giannelli, extended the lead to 4-2. Slovenia quickly responded, leveling the score at 4-4. The game became intense, with both teams trading points (6-6) before Soli's team broke away for a 6-8 lead, only for Romanò to equalize again at 8-8. The teams remained neck-and-neck until 12-12, when Italy accelerated, reaching 15-13. The Azzurri continued to dictate play (18-15), with Sani entering for serve (18-16). Bottolo's block then created a three-point cushion (21-18), and Romanò's subsequent double ace sealed the first set 25-19. The Italian opposite finished with 7 points, including 2 aces and a block.

The second set saw Slovenia take an initial lead, reaching 4-7, prompting an Italian timeout. Upon return, Slovenia extended their advantage to 5-9. Italy fought back, closing the gap to 10-12 and then drawing level through Bottolo at 12-12. Michieletto joined the game at 14-13 for Slovenia. A point from Romanò made it 16-17, and the same player scored after a long rally for 18-19. Giannelli's skillful play led to 19-20, followed by an ace to tie the score at 20-20, and Mati's "monster block" gave Italy a 22-21 lead. Italy secured the set 25-22 on their second set point.

With qualification secured, Coach De Giorgi rotated players in the third set, fielding Sbertoli-Rychlicki in the diagonal, Michieletto-Porro as outside hitters, Sanguinetti-Galassi at middle, and Laurenzano as libero. Slovenia started well, but Italy recovered to tie at 12-12. After a close battle, Slovenia took the set in deuce, 29-27.

In the fourth set, Sani replaced Michieletto, with the rest of the lineup unchanged from the third. Slovenia again took an early lead (2-5), prompting an Italian timeout. Galassi pulled one back for Italy at 4-5, and the Azzurri remained close despite trailing (8-9, 9-10). Bottolo came on for Porro at 13-10. Italy continued to chase the score in the middle of the set (14-17), and Slovenia closed it out 25-19, forcing a fifth set.

Italy started the fifth set well (5-2, 7-4) and maintained a comfortable lead (12-6). The Azzurri ultimately won the set 15-9.

Match Details

ITALY-SLOVENIA 3-2 (25-19, 25-22, 27-29, 19-25, 15-9)

ITALY: Galassi 3, Giannelli 3, Bottolo 6, Mati 9, Romanò 11, Lavia 12, Balaso (L). Laurenzano, Michieletto 8, Sbertoli 2, Sani 4, Rychlicki 13, Porro 3, Sanguinetti 3. Coach: De Giorgi.

SLOVENIA: Planinsic, Sen 16, Kozamernik 2, Bracko 13, Mujanovic 19, Stalekar 11, Kovacic (L). Marovt 1, Okroglic, Krzic 2, Najdic 4. Not played: Pajenk, Urnaut, Mozic. Coach: Soli.

Set Durations: 26’, 35’, 36’, 26’, 15’ Total: 138'

Italy: 8 aces, 23 service errors, 9 blocks, 36 attack errors

Slovenia: 5 aces, 24 service errors, 7 blocks, 34 attack errors

Spectators: 4798

Qualified Teams for the Round of 16

From Pool A, Italy (1st place), Slovenia (2nd place), Greece (3rd place), and Czechia (4th place) advanced. From Pool C, Belgium (1st place), Finland (2nd place), Serbia (3rd place), and Denmark (4th place) qualified.

In Pool B, Poland (1st place), Ukraine (2nd place), Bulgaria (3rd place), and Portugal (4th place) progressed.

Pool D saw France (1st place), Germany (2nd place), Romania (3rd place), and Latvia (4th place) qualify.

Phase Calendar and Results in Italy (Pool A)

September 10 (Piazza del Plebiscito, Naples) Italy-Sweden 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-17)

September 11 (PalaPanini, Modena) Czech Republic-Greece 3-1 (25-21, 25-17, 23-25, 25-23), Slovakia-Slovenia 0-3 (29-31, 15-25, 18-25)

September 12 (PalaPanini, Modena) Sweden-Czech Republic 2-3 (22-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-17, 13-15), Italy-Greece (25-23, 25-23, 25-16)

September 13 (PalaPanini, Modena) Slovenia-Sweden 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-12) Italy-Slovakia 3-1 (25-17, 25-27, 25-10, 25-19)

September 14 (PalaPanini, Modena) Slovakia-Czech Republic 0-3 (21-25, 14-25, 20-25) Slovenia-Greece 1-3 (18-25, 25-19, 23-25, 20-25)

September 15 (PalaPanini, Modena) Greece-Sweden 3-1 (25-23, 25-21, 17-25, 25-20), Italy-Czech Republic (25-23, 16-25, 20-25, 25-20)

September 16 (PalaPanini, Modena) Sweden-Slovakia 3-1 (19-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-19) Czech Republic-Slovenia 1-3 (26-24, 13-25, 25-27, 23-25)

September 17 (PalaPanini, Modena) Slovakia-Greece 1-3 (17-25, 25-21, 22-25, 17-25) Italy-Slovenia 3-2 (25-19, 25-22, 27-29, 19-25, 15-9)

Knockout Stage

Round of 16 – Turin

September 20 and 21 (Turin)

16:00 and 21:05

September 20

16:00 EF4: C2 vs A3 Finland-Greece

21:05 Italy-Denmark

September 21

EF2: C1 vs A4 Belgium-Czechia

EF3: A2 vs C3 Slovenia-Serbia

Round of 16 (Sofia)*

September 19

16:00 EF5: B1 vs D4 Poland-Latvia

19:00 EF8: D2 vs B3 Germany – Bulgaria

September 20

16:00 EF6: D1 vs B4 France – Portugal

19:00 EF7: B2 vs D3 Ukraine-Romania

Quarterfinals – Sofia

September 22

QF3: winner EF5 vs EF8

QF4: winner EF6 vs EF7

Quarterfinals - Turin

September 23

16:00 and 21:05

QF1: winner EF1 vs EF4

QF2: winner EF2 vs EF3

Semifinals

September 25 (Milan)
17:00 and 21:05

SF1: winner QF1 vs QF4

SF2: winner QF2 vs QF3

Finals

September 26 (Milan)

17:00 3rd-4th Place Final

21:00 1st-2nd Place Final