Settebello falls again on penalties, Croatia triumphs
Settebello, resists tabù penalties
It is still penalties that doomed the Settebello: just as it happened in the 2022 rainbow final with Spain, in the 2024 World Championships in Doha, Italy men's water polo team had to surrender in the last act against Croatia, which triumphed with an overall score of 15-13, after 11-11 in regulation time.
In the first quarter, it was the Balkans who unlocked the score, but Italy managed to respond blow by blow, closing the partial period with a 3-2 lead. In the second period, forò, Croatia è adept at taking advantage of several moments of numerical superiority, arriving at halftime in perfect parity on the score of 5-5.
A perfect balance still reigned in the third period, with Italy trying several times to create a lead, but the Balkans managed to stay in the game and end the period leading 7-8. In the last period the Settebello also had a chance to triumph, as in the final seconds the Croatian extreme defender managed to block Fondelli’s potential 12-11 finish. In the penalty shootout, errors by Echenique and Di Fulvio were decisive.
After winning their fourth silver medal at the World Cup, Italy coach Sandro Campagna analyzed his boys’ performance without mincing words: "The last action they played with the goalkeeper forward, we made a mistake: we had to do more intensity on the outside shot, but I do not reproach the boys for anything, they did a terrific World Cup. We grew during the season, we knew how to suffer today as well. Maybe there’è was something lacking in quality and legs at certain times, a few interceptions, a few more blocks with the extra man. I said that if we had reduced their percentage with the’extra man’we would have won".
“The regret remains that we lost when we were ahead with four seconds left. With Velotto and Condemi it would have been different on the’last play. Also this year we did not lose in regulation time: last year in the quarterfinals on penalties against Serbia, this time in the final. I feel sorry for Chalo and Francesco for the amazing game, but it fits“ continued the coach at the microphones of "RAI".
“The boys are crying it out. Clear that è always a medal, but in 2024 will not be remembered this match but will be remembered Olympic medalists, I would have said that even if we had won the’gold. The team is there’è to conquer something prestigious at the Olympics” Sandro Campagna’
