Italy is the new European champion of volleyball after its men’s team beat Slovenia 3-2 in Katowice. This is the first championship win since 2005.
It was not the easiest win, but Italvolley pulled out all the stops to beat a strong Slovenia in the tie-break.
It is the first time in the history of Italian volleyball that the Azzurri and the Italians won in the same year. Likewise, it is the first time that the Italian national team closes the competition undefeated.
Following the disappointment of the Tokyo Olympic Games, the men’s team redeemed itself. The young team were entrusted to De Giorgi two months ago. Slovenia won the first set 25-22, attacking very well on the serve. Italy equalised by winning the second set 25-20 – not without difficulty.
The victory comes two weeks after the Italian women’s team beat Serbia 3-1 in the finals in Belgrade. It is the first time both the men’s and women’s teams are champions in the same year.
Extraordinary summer of sport
Italy’s politicians and sporting associations welcomed news of the double triumph in what has been an extraordinary summer for Italian sport.
The sporting success began in July when Italy’s football team beat England to win the European Championships; and Rome tennis star Matteo Berrettini became the first Italian to reach a final at Wimbledon.
This was followed by a record 40 medals in the Olympic Games in Tokyo. That included Marcell Jacobs winning the Men’s 100m final, succeeding Usain Bolt as the new fastest man in the world.
Earlier this month Italy concluded the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo with 69 medals, one of the country’s best results ever.
