Italy-Serbia 3-1: Azzurri in the final at the European Volleyball Championships with Slovenia

De Giorgi’s blues also demolish the reigning champions: Michieletto irresistible, Balaso is everywhere, we play gold with the surprise coached by Alberto Giuliani

Italy-Serbia 3-1 (29-27, 25-22, 23-25-18)

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Italy returns to a European final after eight years and does so by beating reigning champion Serbia with a performance that is the mirror of this European: concentrated, strong-willed and bold. A great choral performance by a group that knows how to get out of difficulties and react with pride. Fefé De Giorgi’s team finds Giuliani’s Slovenia, an impertinent little one who has knocked down the Polish world champions for the second time in a row. Appointment on a Sunday made for dreaming, at 20.30. The last blue triumph was dated 2005.

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The match

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First set started with a lot of tension and a few too many mistakes for the Azzurri who, however, do not deny the solidity shown so far, remaining in the game against an aggressive Serbia and with a space Podrascanin (9 points with 86% in attack) and a careful defense . Italy remains lucid, rebuilds with Pinali and Michieletto and finds 5 point walls to reach the final rush closed by a ball out of Kovacevic. Great balance also in the second set with Italy not always flawless in reception but with Michieletto growing (83% in the set) and an alternating current Serbia, insidious in serving but not very lucid in attack. Kovac tries the Petric card (Atanasijevic has remained in the field from the first set for Luburic) but the trend does not change substantially. The Azzurri find the extension at 23-21 after a very long exchange closed by Galassi and it is the central player himself who conquers the first set ball closed by Pinali in batting. Third set with some mistakes too early on the part of Italy which, however, always remains in the game. Better the joke, the wall every now and then loses compactness while Serbia grows with Atanasijevic and goes to close the set. The blue reaction is vehement and starts in the fourth with an imperious 5-0 and an irresistible Michieletto. but the whole team runs with a Balaso that reaches everywhere

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