Water polo, World League: Settebello doubles France and awaits Japan

A soft landing towards the quarters. In Tbilisi, Georgia, on the third day of the World League Final Eight, Settebello doubles France and awaits Japan. «An opponent that we must respect, in recent years he has made great progress by working hard for the Olympics he will host. If we go into the water without the right concentration, we risk bad figures »warns Sandro Campagna after yet another success, never questioned.

GREAT START

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Without Bodegas (who came out a bit bruised from the match against Greece) and Damonte, left to rest, Italy ranks Aicardi as the only central player. Between the posts, space in Nicosia. A great start (4-1 at the first interval) is thwarted by some carelessness in the second half: the French go to -1 with the lively Bouet (6-5 at 14 ‘), then a 6-0 break until the beginning of the last time puts the race back on the planned tracks. The 11-5 of Dolce from the center was splendid, with a “scarf” worthy of Aicardi, master of that role. Shine also Velotto, author of a hat-trick (on 4 pitches), Echenique and Luongo. The referees whistle many red cards on contacts away from the ball, and the feeling is that the world champions have not fully adapted. Overall, the Settebello shows the best things when he picks up the pace, often hitting the counter-escape using the M zone. Well the extra man (6 out of 6 starting, before concluding with 7 out of 9). Tomorrow, therefore, the quarters with Japan: all matches are streamed on aquatics.eurovisionsports.tv, any semifinal and final with Settebello will also go to RaiSport (channel 58).

ITALY: Nicosia, F. Di Fulvio 1, S. Luongo 2, Figlioli 1, A.Fondelli, Velotto 3, Figari 1, Echenique 2, N. Presciutti 2, Alesiani 1, Aicardi, Dolce 1. Ne Del Lungo. All. Campaign.

FRANCE: Dubois, Saudadier, M. Vernoux 2, Lepoint, Do Carmo, T. Vernoux 1, Crousillat, De Nardi, Marzouki, Canonne 1, Vanpeperstraete, Bouet 3, Fontani. All. Vukanic.

REFEREES: Mebuke (Geo) e Goldenberg (Usa).

NOTE: sup. num. Italy 9 (7 goals), Fracia 11 (5). Usc. 3 f. Children 23’30 ”, Vanpeperstraete 31’15 ‘.’

Saturday 26. Group A: Greece-France 10-8, Italy-Kazakhstan 17-11. Group B: Montenegro-USA 10-6, Georgia-Japan 13-12.

Sunday 27. Group A: France-Kazakhstan 12-11, Italy-Greece 11-8. Group B: Montenegro-Georgia 19-8, USA-Japan 15-7.

Monday 28. Group A: Greece-Kazakhstan 14-9, Italy-France 14-7. Standings: Italy 9; Greece 6; France 3; Kazakhstan 0. Group B: USA-Georgia 13-9, Montenegro-Japan 16-8. Standings: Montenegro 9; Use 6; Georgia 3; Japan 0.

Tuesday 29. Quarters Greece-Georgia (12.45 Italian), France-USA (14.30), Italy-Japan (16.15), Kazakhstan-Montenegro (18).

Wednesday 30 semifinals.

Thursday 1st July final.