The blue Sofia D’Odorico, 24, is originally from San Giorgio di Nogaro
UDINE. The women’s Italvolley beats Holland 1-3 and flies to the European Championship final. The Friulian Sofia D’Odorico (live on Rai 3) will also play for the gold medal on Saturday 4 September at 8 pm against Serbia. To rejoice with her all the volleyball movement of Friuli Venezia Giulia, which, after 13 years, celebrates the return of a regional player to the senior national team. The last, before Sofia, was Sandra Vitez from Trieste, in blue until 2008; shortly before her, Elisa Togut from Gorizia, 2002 world champion and best player in the world championship competition. The spiker of San Giorgio di Nogaro was not deployed yesterday. He made his debut in the qualifying match against Switzerland, in which he had ample space in the second row.
Italy played a great match on Friday, if we exclude the third set, characterized by a great drop in concentration. A decline that cannot be granted today against the very strong Serbia, who yesterday beat Turkey 3-1 in the other semifinal. In the first two sets coach Mazzanti always played the same formation: Orro in the control room, Egonu opposite, Chirichella and Danesi in the center, Sylla and Pietrini in the band, De Gennaro free. The only change between the Parish Church and Pietrini. In the third set the dark. Mazzanti then entered Malinov, Gennari and Nwakalor. The blue, however, made many mistakes and played in a very confusing way, without finding their own rhythm. In the fourth set, Italy returned to being solid and orderly. Top scorer Paola Egonu with 24 points, followed by an excellent Anna Danesi with 17.
The journey of the men’s national team of Fefè De Giorgi also started in a winning way, yesterday making his debut on the blue bench with a team renewed compared to the Olympics. Italy, included in group B, won 3-0 on modest Belarus (25-18, 25-12, 25-15). No problem for the Azzurri, in control of the match right from the start and good at taking home the challenge easily. The national team will be on the field again tomorrow at 7pm against Montenegro for the second match of the qualifying round.