Home » Olympics, the dreams of the Italian men’s volleyball team are shattered against the French wall: the defending champions win 3-0. Final time for the bronze
Olympics, the dreams of the Italian men’s volleyball team are shattered against the French wall: the defending champions win 3-0. Final time for the bronze
Nothing to be done for theMen’s Italian VolleyballIn the semi-final the team coached by Fefe De Giorgi crashed into the defending champions of Tokyo, and hosts. of the France. The Azzurri fought for a good part of the first two sets (25-20; 25-21), but in both sets the transalpines came out on the long distance, and in the decisive points. On the shields Antoine Brizard and especially, Trevor Clevenotunstoppable in attack. Third set with an up-and-down trend, with France ahead from the start and at +4 at half time. On the wings of enthusiasm – and with the crowd on their side – N’Gapeth and his teammates closed the match, practically always in control (25 to 21). For Italy, now, the final for the bronze against the United Statesdefeated 3-2 by Poland.
Balanced first set. The team of Andrea Giani escapes only in the final: two aces for Brizard, seven points by the only Earvin N’Gapeth. In difficulty Alessandro Michieletto. And it’s 25 to 20. Second set that continues along the lines of the first, with a renewed Michieletto. But there are many errors for Italy, especially in service (8 to 6 the count at half time). The public also gives a big hand, in the stands, when at the end of an incredible and prolonged exchange, the point is given to the Azzurri after a challenge. Yuri Romano he is the most prolific, Roberto Russo walls, two points in a row of Daniel Lavia and Italy goes to +3. But France stays close, ties at 17, then Clévenot makes the decisive break to 22 to 20. De Giorgi’s players invade, then Clévenot again and an ace closes the set for the transalpines: 25 to 21.
In the third set, France tries to run away immediately. Italy appears dazed and is no longer able to score a point. Except for a slip-up by our opponents, the Tokyo champions play on a cloud and manage the match, remaining on the safety margin of +5, until the epilogue. The hopes of witnessing the sporting miracle of the quarter-finals, against the Japanthey quickly vanish.
