VNL, Italy surrenders to France

VNL, Italy surrenders to France

Ferdinando De Giorgi’s men’s Italy’s adventure in the 2024 Volleyball Nations League stops in the quarterfinals. The Azzurri were beaten on tie-break at the Atlas Arena in Lodz by reigning Olympic champions France 

19-25 25-20 22-25 25-22 15-11 were the set partials in favor of the transalpines, who then twice overcame the Azzurri from a one-set disadvantage. 

In the first set Italy took a decisive 7-1 lead from 10-8 to 17-9. In the second set, too, our colletors were ahead until’11-10, then suffering a 10-3 partial.

In the third set maximum lead of 5 lengths for the reigning vice-champions of Europe, who once again were ahead in the fourth set as well, 12-9, before getting caught up again and overtaken.

Finally in the tie-break the Azzurri flew up 4-0, were caught and then on 10-10 suffered the partial set that decided the match. A pity for Italy, ahead by a margin in all sets but not very concrete. 18 points by Mattia Bottolo, on the other side 28 by Jean Patry.