Settebello, defeat in friendly match with Greece

Settebello knockout

The Settebello lost 12-11 to Greece in the second of two friendly matches, the first won 10-7 on Tuesday, of the common training being held in Athens. The Azzurri, trailing 8-7 at the half, paid for a small lapse in the third period: the Hellenes in fact stretched to 11-7 with goals in sequence by Kakaris, Argyropoulos and Gkillas; and led 12-8 at the start of the fourth half. Then Italy’s comeback came back in the slipstream with goals by Renzuto, Marziali and Di Fulvio (12-11) but Alessandro Campagna’s national team lacked the momentum to retake Greece and rebalance the match.

For coach Sandro Campagna facing Greece is always a source of good memories, given his six years at the helm with a fourth-place finish at the 2004 Athens Olympics and a world bronze medal in Montreal 2005. The two teams had faced each other recently, in the world semifinals in Budapest where the Azzurri prevailed 11-10.