Piano and Beretta
They actually have pretty much in common as they were born in 1990, play as middle-blocker and never worn the jersey of Italy’s national team until earlier this year they joined the group around head coach Mauro Berruto before the start of the World League. Thomas and Matteo played a couple of friendly matches with France and after that were part of the group that qualified for the World League Finals winning bronze in Mar del Plata, Argentina. On Friday, as Italy plays hosts Denmark, they will add another chapter to what looks like a fairy tale.
Thomas started playing Volleyball relatively late, by the time he was already 15 but only two years later he had already moved to Treviso to train with the junior team of legendary Sisley.
“I have got great memories from those years I spent there in Treviso. Though I was still going to school, everything around us was very professionally organized, like for the senior team. We enjoyed a world-class environment where everything was being taken care of with much professionalism. By that time, some world-class players like Gustavo, Papi, Hübner, and some more Volleyball heavyweights were playing in Treviso, so we did have our role models to look at right first-hand”.
Though Sisley was a trademark for quality at that time, and even though he did join many training camps with the youth and junior national teams, Thomas was eventually never called to represent Italy at any international competition. After trying out cross-country skiing, mountain biking and some other individual sports, Thomas had discovered Volleyball via a class-mate and since that day he got to know what he wanted to pursue in his life. Only once he started playing he was told that Volleyball was somehow in the DNA of his family for his grandfather and one aunt had been involved in the sport.
“My parents have become my first supporters and even though they did not know much about Volleyball, now they always follow me and have become fond of the sport too” he said.
After leaving Sisley, Thomas spent the past three seasons in Italy’s second division where he sometimes crossed his ways with those of Matteo Piano.
While Thomas was born in Milano, Matteo hails from Asti, a city in the Piedmont Region that is well-known for producing high-quality wines. Matteo discovered Volleyball much earlier than Thomas, he got to know the ABC of the sport already while attending primary school and after a short switch to basketball, he eventually opted – once and for all – for Volleyball. He spent a couple of seasons in Piacenza under the guidance of Angelo Lorenzetti and this coming season will be playing in Italy’s first division with Altotevere CITTA’ DI CASTELLO. Similarly to 205 cm tall Beretta, Matteo never got the opportunity to represent Italy internationally until Mauro Berruto decided to inject some fresh blood in the senior national team to start another Olympic quadrennial leading up to Rio 2016.
“Our mentor has organized a series of camps this past year with players from the second division whereby he wanted to scout and identify those that could join the national team. It was a very busy period for we played with our clubs on weekends and after that resumed to the camps that were held under the supervision of Mauro. I can only say that we found ourselves at the right place and also at the right moment for we have improved on our performance right by the time that Berruto had embarked on this ambitious project. We are evidently grateful for this opportunity and we are absolutely thrilled to compete at the European Championship” Matteo stated.
One year ago, could they even dream they would have been in Denmark for the start of the VELUX EuroVolley, competing for a place in the starting six?
“I absolutely have no words to express the way we feel” says Beretta. “Twelve months ago I was watching the Olympics on TV; you know, Italy won bronze there and could barely imagine that only some months later I would have worn that same jersey, played the World League and won bronze in the finals. And now, we are here for the European Championship, playing some of the best teams in the world, this is absolutely amazing”.
“Though we are very excited for being here, now we just want our wish to come true. Nobody comes to the EuroVolley hoping to finish fourth”.
This is the right attitude to embark on an adventure where Matteo and Thomas hope to leave their marks. Come September 29 we will know more and discover if their wish has finally come true.
To read more news related to this competition click on European Championship 2013 M.
Also, see the WoV Community profiles of Matteo and Thomas and Italy as well.
