The terrible boys of Fefè De Giorgi try. The Azzurri, revelation of the tournament, challenge the expert Slovenia of coach Alberto Giuliani, who eliminated the hosts of Poland in the semifinals. For us it would be the seventh European title, the last success in 2005 with Gian Paolo Montali. In the semifinal the Azzurri beat Serbia 3 to 1, reaching qualification for the World Cup in Russia next year. This is the eighth win in a row in the competition. Italy and Slovenia have faced each other 8 times with 4 wins on each side (the last match between the two national teams dates back to the first phase of this continental review, on 8 September, with the Italian team winning 3-0).
cousin set
Slovenia won the first set with an ace at bat 25 to 22, with Italy leaving its fourth set in the tournament on the road. The first stage is two-speed, with Italy starting in great difficulty but coming back up when everything seemed lost. Stern and his teammates start strong, thanks above all to Čebulj and Pajenk, irrepressible on the serve. The Azzurri respond blow for blow to every attempt to reach Lavia and Pinali, returning with breathlessness to the opponents until 24-22, and taking advantage of a few too many blunders for Giuliani’s Slovenia, but they are inaccurate in reception with Michieletto. Italy not very effective from nine meters: “It takes patience” is the invitation of coach De Giorgi to time out. The blues are guilty of imprecision and nervousness, with several fouls and little clarity in serving.
Second set
Italy resumes the final in the second half. De Giorgi’s boys falter at the beginning, above all psychologically, but they manage to never let the race get out of hand. De Giorgi gives the alarm clock calling the time out. We need to change face, on the pitch and in this final reached by revelation, even in the attitude. Urnaut is sumptuous and keeps his clinging to the blues, Italy responds with Pinali and Lavia, the most on the ball in this set. Watershed is the double advantage sentenced by Pinali, which brings his on 13-15. The paw of the opposite of Trento gives life to the teammates who appear more in the game: they build with greater method, are more solid against the wall – at least four decisive blocks – and for the first time they manage to put pressure. Giannelli draws a fundamental dunk that brings the Azzurri to 20-22 when the Slovenians seemed to be coming back up. Then Michieletto and again, needless to say, Lavia make Italy escape. The second set ends 20 – 25. The game is open.
Terzo set
The Slovenians are a team of veterans, and in the third set you can see all the maturity of Giuliani’s team. Stern lights up the fraction, first with a shot to cross that sends his team forward on 16 -12, then on serve. At the time out Fefè De Giorgi encourages his team to play with the opponents’ block, taking advantage of the second balls, but Italy is always under. An ace from Pinali tries to get his team back on track, but Italy continues to struggle in reception and there are no dunks from the front line. A question and answer service, initiated by Giannelli, deceives us by bringing the game to 20 equal; then it’s Stern’s moment, who with two baseline missiles allows his men to take off until the final 25 – 20.
fourth set
The fourth set that rewards Italy has a name and surname: Yuri Romanò. The left-handed opposite of Powervolley Milano is decisive as Italy lacked under straight lines. Italy starts with too many decisive errors in the service, as had never happened in the whole tournament. Ropret masters masterfully, something that Italy still fails to do with continuity in the first phase of the set. A mistake by Stern and three aces in a row by Lavia are worth a three-point advantage that brings the fraction to: 17 – 13. Urnaut’s miraculous dive and Italy’s subsequent dunk error allow Slovenia to return under two. A decisive invasion by the Slovenians puts points back in the lead after an incredible defense by Balaso on Pajek, followed by a missile from Romanò, which is worth the set point. The last point is drowned by a whistle from referee Maroszek, but the challange confirms the tie-break. 25 – 20 also in this set.