Dominant Italy Sweep Belgium to Reach World Championship Semifinals

WoV

3 months ago

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.

Cup tree provided by Sofascore