Water polo, Setterosa does the feat against the U.S.

Water polo, Setterosa does the feat against the U.S.

Epic victory for the women’s national water polo team at the ongoing World Championships in Japan. Setterosa surprisingly beat the Olympic and world champion United States 8-7 to qualify for the semifinals of the rainbow tournament.

A splendid performance by goalkeeper Banchelli, who was awarded best player of the match, while the Americans were not satisfied with Steffens’ poker. For ours to score Giustini with a hat trick, Bianconi with a double, Marletta, Picozzi and Tabani.

In the semifinals Italy will face the winner of the challenge between Holland and Canada for a place in the Fukuoka final.

Thus coach Carlo Silipo: “Finally we saw the Setterosa, the one I am proud to lead. A performance of head, heart and character was needed to beat the United States. We succeeded. This success should give us confidence and awareness. However, the World Cup does not end here, just as it was not over after the loss to Greece when I could already hear the bells for the departed.”

“When you put in the will to suffer, everything becomes easier. We knew it was a game to play mostly defensively and that the more we stuck to the U.S. the better our chances of winning would grow. To only concede seven goals against them is a lot. Now everything can be achieved if we remain humble, down-to-earth, if we continue to suffer and believe in our game.”