Overview: A historic double in a few weeks
In a span of three weeks, Italian volleyball has written a new chapter in its history. On September 7, the women’s national team clinched their second World Championship, continuing a trend of excellence that has characterized Italian volleyball for years. The next afternoon the men’s team, led by coach Fefè De Giorgi, sealed their own world title by defeating a spirited Bulgaria 3-1 in the final. This rapid succession is not a mere coincidence: it is the culmination of a long-term project focused on youth development, tactical evolution, and a renewal that began after the Tokyo Olympics.
The current cycle features a refreshed roster that rose quickly to the world’s top, maintaining a level of consistency that remains unmatched by key rivals. France has showcased brilliance by winning consecutive Olympics, yet faced missteps at major events in between. Poland has come close in multiple finals since 2022, yet Italy consistently lands at the decisive stages of men’s and women’s tournaments. This is the result of a cohesive system, not just star power, with a clear emphasis on service pressure, defense, and the development of versatile attackers.
semifinal: a display of constancy and high-service pressure
To beat Poland, Italy needed both genius and endurance. The semifinal delivered exactly that: a match where Italy’s serving and reception were decisive, producing seven aces across three sets while balancing 16 errors—an acceptable toll given the offensive rewards. Five different players contributed to the serving blitz, preventing the Poles from settling into a rhythm. Balaso, the Lube libero, delivered the best performance of the World Championship in his role, while Michieletto repeatedly put his knee to the ground to keep balls in play and create scoring opportunities.
Giannelli’s leadership on the second contact and the strategic use of Sani—an emerging right-side hitter born in 2002—helped tilt the match. Sani’s three straight serves, culminating in an ace, showed De Giorgi’s willingness to trust younger players in high-leverage moments. Porro’s entry in the third set provided stability in reception and added a fresh attacking option from the outside position, while Giannelli orchestrated plays that kept Poland under constant pressure. The semifinal, far from a mere tactical battle, demonstrated a team that could improvise under pressure and convert crucial sequences into points when it mattered most.
final vs Bulgaria: a collective triumph against a brave outsider
The final pitted Italy against Bulgaria, a team reborn after a decade with two Nikolov brothers driving the attack and a pair of young talents elevating the level of risk in every rally. Bulgaria pushed Italy in the early frames, and Alexander Nikolov, in particular, delivered a performance that could have propelled his team to a deeper run. Yet Italy’s depth shone through. The Italians controlled the tempo with timely serves, tight defense, and efficient transition play. Bottolo stood out in the late stages of the match, delivering decisive points on service and attack, even after facing early pressure. He, along with a determined defense, helped swing the momentum in the second and fourth sets, turning tight games into authoritative finishes.
At the heart of the victory was Romanò, the left-hander who has emerged as the reliable finishing piece for Giannelli’s offense. He repeatedly turned pressure into points, finishing with a robust attacking repertoire and timely serves. The partnership between Giannelli and Romanò has matured into one of the best diagonals in modern volleyball, capable of breaking through the toughest walls when the services demand volume and precision. The final’s decisive moment came when a strong 9-meter service run—led by Bottolo—established a cushion that Bulgaria couldn’t close, allowing Anzani to close the match with a late, emphatic point.
The Mondiale di Romanò: a new star on the world stage
Across the knockout rounds and in the final, Yuri Romanò emerged as the anchor of Italy’s offense. The left-handed opposite consistently delivered when the team needed him most, transforming from a supporting piece into a principal driver of scoring. Giannelli’s quick set variations and Romanò’s ability to attack from multiple zones created a dynamic that Bulgaria—and many others—found difficult to counter. In the most crucial moments, the Giannelli–Romanò combination provided a reliable path to points and a blueprint for the team’s continued success on the world stage.
Depth, and a future that excites Italian volleyball
The triumphs come with a clear message: Italy possesses a deep pool. The absence of Daniele Lavia—who was expected to be a central figure—was offset by Bottolo’s breakout performance and Porro’s quick ascent into international duties. The emergence of players such as Sani and Porro signals that the team can sustain success even as some veterans phase out. The internal culture—founded on a relentless service game, aggressive defense, and a willingness to involve younger players in critical moments—has become a cornerstone of De Giorgi’s coaching philosophy.
Looking ahead: a new era for Italian volleyball
With both the men’s and women’s teams asserting dominance at the world level, Italian volleyball is entering a phase reminiscent of the “generation of phenomena” that defined earlier decades. De Giorgi’s continuity as a successful player-turned-coach serves as a bridge between past glories and the future potential of this program. While calendars remain crowded and the global landscape shifts, Italy has shown that a unified, multi-tier system can yield back-to-back world titles and sustain its position at the pinnacle of international volleyball.
