After 24 years, Italy has reclaimed the crown as the best men’s volleyball team in the world.
Defending World Champion and host Poland had the home-court advantage and came out firing in Spodek Arena, winning the first set 25-22.
However the Italians maintained their form to take the next three consecutive set (25-21, 25-18 and 25-20).
“It doesn’t feel real,” team captain Simone Giannelli said. “Last year, when we won the European Championship, I cried a lot. But now I can’t cry because I’m so happy and so excited. I can’t think of anything, I can only smile and laugh. I’m so proud of my team, proud to be Italian and proud to be a world champion.”
The victory is Italy’s fourth World Championship title placing them as the second-most successful country in the tournament’s history - trailing only the Soviet Union with six championships (1949, 1952, 1960, 1962, 1978 and 1982).
Ferdinando De Giorgi, the head coach of the Italian team, is the only individual who has been a part of all four victories of the country’s national teams. He was part of the group that won the 1990, 1994 and 1998 tournaments as the team’s setter.
“Two Years - incredible with Players-Team-Staff & Clubs SPECIAL!” said an elated De Giorgi.
It was also a special moment for 20-year-old outside hitter Paolo Michieletto, as he became the youngest player to win a gold medal at all three levels of Volleyball including the U19 and U20 titles.
Michieletto joins a group of players that includes Nalbert Bittencourt of Brazil, Bartosz Kwolek of Poland, and Leandro Vissotto of Italy.
“This is an incredible group,” said veteran Setter Simone Giannelli said. “We just play hard. It doesn’t matter what’s on the scoreboard and what the other team is doing, we just stay in the game and play hard. We love playing this game and enjoy so much doing it together. I hope it’s the start of something special. We have a lot of young guys who are very talented and we have to continue to grow and create something big. It’s a very good moment for us, but we have to keep looking forward.”
Poland was led by Aleksander Sliwka who led the team with 12 points, while teammate Kamil Semeniuk had 11 all on kills shots.
In the bronze-medal match, Brazil defeated co-host Slovenia - with a score of 3-1 (25-18, 25-18, 22-25, and 25-18). It was a great moment for the country and its players. They have a lot of talented young players and are expected to continue developing and creating something special.
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