Live Final: Bulgaria stuns Italy with a late comeback
The World Championship final delivered another chapter of high drama as Bulgaria erased a two-set deficit to beat Italy 2-1. The Bulgarians rode momentum from a tight third set, turning the match on a string of clutch plays and a palpable surge of belief that carried them to the title contention in the Philippines. The Italians opened strong, but Bulgaria’s resilience proved decisive as the night wore on.
First set: Italy takes the opener in a tight exchange
Italy broke ahead early in the opening frame, building a lead that grew as the set progressed. Bottolo delivered a key ace and a sharp pipe off an inviting Giannelli setup, sparking a 4-0 stretch that helped the Azzurri carry a 16-14 advantage. A pair of careful block reads by Giannelli and a late push from Romanò kept Italy in front, and the set closed at 25-21 after a precise long rally and a Bottolo ace sealing the score. The Bulgarian side, unsettled by the early pace, showed signs of frustration with a couple of misfired serves that allowed Italy to orchestrate the tempo.
Second set: Italy extends, taking a commanding 2-0 lead
Italy looked like it might cruise to a quick finish as the interchanging points favored the Azzurri. Anzani started a sequence with a decisive block, while Romanò’s diagonals and Michieletto’s pressure from the backcourt kept Bulgaria on the ropes. A key run featured the Italian combination of a back-row attack and a sharp serve return, enabling a late push as Italy extended the lead to 17-14 and then pulled away to 25-17. The Italians finished strong with an ace from Bottolo and a column of well-placed attacks, forcing Bulgaria into a corner and prompting a time-out with a sizable deficit to erase.
Third set: Bulgaria roars back to force a decider
Back from the break, Bulgaria found a new gear. After a successful serve from Atanasov, the set swung into a tighter phase, and a series of powerful hits, including a decisive ace from Nikolov and a smoke-like attack from Petkov in the middle, helped Bulgaria climb back into contention. Italy attempted to stabilize with decisive defenses, but Bulgaria rode the momentum, tightening the gap and moving into the advantage late in the frame. A string of aggressive plays—blocked balls and smart middle attacks—put Bulgaria up by four points at one stage and kept the pressure on the Italians as the set wound down. The mood shifted as Bulgaria edged closer to forcing a decisive fourth game, turning a potential collapse into a highly competitive finish.
Key moments and players who shaped the night
On the Italian side, players like Romanò, Michieletto, Giannelli, Anzani, and Bottolo anchored the attack, with Romanò delivering efficient diagonals and a crucial late-quarterback pipe. Michieletto’s pace and two-Midline hits, paired with Giannelli’s precise playmaking, formed the backbone of the early success. Sani entered late in the second and carried momentum with two aces that kept Italy in the hunt and helped push the scoreboard toward a dangerous late-stage scenario for Bulgaria. For Bulgaria, Nikolov emerged as the most prolific attacker, while Atanasov’s ace and Petkov’s sharp hits punctuated the late push. The Bulgarian team, under coach Gianlorenzo Blengini, mobilized a crowd-pleasing surge that underscored their relentless belief in a title-chasing finish.
Before the final: a message from the Lavia contingent
Before the first whistle, the entire Italian squad gathered for a video call to Daniele Lavia, who was sidelined by a hand injury. “I’m fine, and I’d love to be with them,” said the Verona-born scorer, underscoring the emotional weight of the moment for the team and its supporters. The moment highlighted the close-knit nature of the squad and the shared resolve to push toward glory together, even if one player could not be on court.
The road to the final: Italy and Bulgaria’s journeys
Italy advanced through the group stage with wins over Algeria and Ukraine, dropping a five-set thriller to Belgium. In the knockout rounds, they defeated Argentina, Belgium, and Poland to reach the final. Bulgaria, returning to the final after 55 years, dispatched Germany, Chile, and Slovenia in the group phase, then defeated Portugal, the United States, and the Czech Republic to seal their place in the title match. The blend of veteran leadership and rising stars such as Nikolov has powered Bulgaria’s resurgence, a narrative amplified by Blengini’s strategic coaching in a role that previously belonged to a different national program.
What this means for the sport and the fans
The Bulgaria-Italy showdown offered more than a result; it showcased the depth and drama of men’s volleyball on the world stage. Bulgaria’s 55-year final absence ended in a tense, competitive finale that raised the sport’s profile back home and across Europe. For Italy, the setback will fuel a quick lesson in closing out matches against resilient opponents. The World Championship continues to deliver enthralling volleyball, and both teams demonstrated that the line between victory and defeat can be razor-thin in the sport’s biggest moments.
Bottom line
In a final that will be remembered for its swing moments and late-game pressure, Bulgaria completed a remarkable comeback to win 2-1 and claim a place among the world’s volleyball elites. The players, coaching staff, and fans will remember this night as a turning point in Bulgarian volleyball history.
