The excitement is palpable as Verona prepares to host the inaugural game of the 2023 CEV European Women’s Volleyball Championships tonight. The city’s stadium lights will shine brightly as the Italian home team, the reigning European champions, square off against Romania to commence the action in Pool B.
Under the guidance of coach Davide Mazzanti, Italy is a favorite in tonight’s match. They are marking their 22nd consecutive participation in the European Championships. Romania, meanwhile, celebrates their 27th appearance in the championship games.
Beyond the opening match in Verona, fans can anticipate a series of thrilling games scheduled in Monza’s Arena from the 16th to 19th of August.
An intriguing aspect of this year’s EuroVolley is the Italian dominance in coaching. Out of the participating national teams, one-third have Italian head coaches. Notable names include Davide Mazzanti (Italy), Daniele Santarelli (Türkiye), Stefano Lavarini (Poland), Marco Bonitta (Slovenia), and Giovanni Guidetti (Serbia), among others. Moreover, a robust presence of 23 Italians is observed in different roles such as medical and coaching staff across various teams, including Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, and more.
