Live update: Italy vs Poland in the Men’s Volleyball World Championship
In a highly anticipated clash, the Italian men’s team—called the Azzurri—took a 2-0 lead over Poland in the World Championship match. Poland started strong, pushing ahead to a 10-5 advantage, and coach Ferdinando De Giorgi urged his side to maintain quality as the set unfolded. Early in the rally, Italy’s attackers found moments of brilliance as Leon delivered a smart touch but missed the subsequent serve, while Romanò answered with a precise diagonale. Michieletto also erred, prompting De Giorgi to call a timeout and rally the group as the score moved to 5-10.
Italy would finally close the opening play with an ace and secure the Set 1 victory, 25-21, after a stretch of pressure and disciplined defense. Bottolo ended the set with a decisive move on the diagonal, following an attack attempt by Leon that clipped the line and sailed out, while Sasak’s serve went long and Huber’s serve was also off-target as Italy edged ahead.
Set 2: Italy’s comeback seals a 2-0 lead
The second set opened with a tense exchange as Poland pressed forward, but Italy answered with a strong comeback. A significant moment came when Gargiulo teamed up with a block on Semeniuk, launching a 1-4 to 6-6 turnaround. Romanò delivered a crucial block on Semeniuk, Michieletto followed with a successful pipe, and although Sasak’s serve clipped the net for a moment, Italy stayed resilient. Michieletto’s power and Balaso’ inviti on defense helped the Azzurri gain momentum, while Bottolo found rhythm from the left wing and recorded a timely ace that helped seal the frame.
By the end of Set 2, Italy had confirmed a 2-0 advantage, 25-21, with Sani delivering an ace to put Italy ahead and seal the set. The crowd roared as the Azzurri demonstrated cohesion and tactical discipline, despite a few unforced errors from Poland.
Important notes from the match
Poland had to adjust as veteran hitter Bartosz Kurek did not start the match due to abdominal problems, limiting some of their offensive options. The Italian squad continued to apply pressure with Giannelli’s serves and Giannelli’s intelligent distribution, while Romanò and Bottolo provided reliable finishes at key moments. On the Polish side, Semeniuk’s attacking attempts sometimes misfired under pressure, but the match remained tightly contested through much of the action.
Beyond this match, the World Championship bracket evolved with Bulgaria returning to the final for the first time in decades, powered by Nikolov’s 31 points in a 3-1 victory over the Czech Republic. That win sets up a final against the winner of the Italy-Poland clash. Former Italian coach Gianlorenzo Blengini’s Bulgaria team will be looking to cap a strong tournament season, while the Czechs will contest the bronze medal match in a separate pairing.
In brief, the Azzurri displayed resilience and tactical execution in the opening two sets, signaling a strong start as they eye a deep run in the World Championship. Poland will need to regroup quickly if they hope to flip the script in the later stages of the tournament.
