Marco Mencarelli
On Tuesday Mencarelli announced the names of the 14 players that will start their quest for European glory in Zurich after Italy missed out on a medal two years ago in Belgrade.
“We did not change much as right from the start of the season we had decided to work with Noemi and Letizia in order to develop a system of play and strategies that we can well exploit for the European Championship” Mencarelli says. “When it comes to the middle-blockers, we have got the right mix of youth and experience. Chirichella and Folie are young but they have the potential and technical skills required to become top players also on the international stage. We have two excellent opposite players: Diouf was the top scorer of the World Grand Prix Finals in Japan while Sorokaite has showed very good performances and one day may play as outside hitter as well”.
“As for Lucia Bosetti, she got green light from our medical staff only on August 29 and she has started working on reception and defense. As the European Championship progresses and she continues recovering from the injury she suffered some weeks ago, we will see what kind of contribution she can bring to our European Championship campaign. Our spikers have got a different background and differ in their international experience, but they all have what it takes to help the team”.
As they embark on this adventure, Italy will be missing almost all of the stars that won double European gold in 2007 and 2009, but this is not a major surprise for Mencarelli had decided – a long while ago – to rejuvenate the group with next year’s home World Championship in sight. The real potential of this group will be disclosed starting from Friday as Italy play the hosts of Switzerland and then take on France and Belgium in the first stage of their much awaited European campaign.
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