Italy produced a volleyball masterclass in Pasay City, sweeping Belgium 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-18) to secure a place in the semifinals of the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship. With this victory, the defending champions celebrated their seventh appearance among the world’s top four.
From the opening serve, Italy displayed intensity, focus, and consistency. Coach Ferdinando De Giorgi stuck with his usual lineup—Giannelli-Romanò on the diagonal, Michieletto and Bottolo as outside hitters, Russo and Gargiulo at the center, and Balaso libero—while Belgium countered with D’Hulst, Reggers, Deroo, Desmet, Coolman, Fafchamps, and Lantsoght.
The first set was one-sided, Italy racing to a 12-point win, capped off by a Russo block. The second followed the same rhythm, with the Azzurri dominating through serving and defense. The Belgians showed more fight in the third, holding level until 10-10, but Michieletto’s serving streak and Russo’s late aces pushed Italy over the finish line.
Match Top Scorers
- Italy: Michieletto 13, Russo 11, Bottolo 11, Romanò 7, Giannelli 5, Gargiulo 4
- Belgium: Reggers 14, Deroo 11, Coolman 6, Desmet 6, Fafchamps 2, Rotty 1
Match Stats
- Aces: Italy 8 – Belgium 1
- Blocks: Italy 6 – Belgium 1
- Errors: Belgium 26 – Italy 10
- Duration: 22’, 28’, 28’
- Attendance: 2,906
Reactions
De Giorgi praised the team’s discipline:
“We served at a very high level, defended well, and stayed focused under pressure. This group is growing every match.”
Captain Simone Giannelli highlighted their mental strength:
“We stayed composed even when leading. After the earlier defeat to Belgium, this win shows how much we’ve grown.”
What’s Next
Italy will face the winner of Poland vs. Türkiye on Saturday, September 27, in the semifinal as they continue their quest to defend their world title.
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