The national team of Italy showed Cuba in the Round of 16 match of the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship how much consistency counts in the top-level category of this sport.
Italy beat Cuba in four sets in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and flies to the quarter-finals of the men’s World Champs 2022. The European champions had to work very hard to overtake the world volleyball’s force in the process of regaining such status. There wasn’t much continuity in the play of the ’Azzurri’ but the usual heart in key moments didn’t lack so they’ll continue the adventure in Poland and Slovenia. However, exactly this level of necessary continuity, no matter how low it was, that Italy found tonight was just enough for Cuba, who now learned a hard way how much they still need to catch up in this high-intensity volleyball after a multi-year absence from major events.
The Caribbeans made as many as 44 unforced errors and the majority of them when having to chase the rival’s advantage, such as in the fourth set. Yuri Romanò was Italy’s most efficient player in the match, scoring 14 points. Jesús Herrera was the author of 23 points for Cuba.
2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship – Round of 16:
Slovenia – Germany 3-1 (25-18, 25-19, 21-35, 25-22)
Italy – Cuba 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 26-24, 25-18)
Sunday, September 4:
USA – Turkey
Poland – Tunisia
Monday, September 5:
Netherlands – Ukraine
France – Japan
Tuesday, September 6:
Serbia – Argentina
Brazil – Iran
