Julio Velasco echoes Paola Egonu and explains the "blue" pact for the Worlds

Returning the women’s world title to Italy after twenty-three years: this is the goal of Julio Velasco and an extraordinary generation of volleyball players, who lack only the rainbow seal to close a circle that began with the success at the European Championships in 2021 and continued with the Olympic masterpiece in 2024 and the three victories in four years in the GNL between 2022 and 2025.

Interviewed by ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’, head coach Julio Velasco picked up on Paola Egonu’s statements (“This time I would really like to win the World Cup” the Azzurri outfielder told ‘La Repubblica’) to confirm the Azzurre’s hunger for victories: “The girls have made a pact with each other – he said -. To give their best to bring back to Italy a World Cup that we have not won at the women” level since 2002.

“They are aware of the significance of winning Olympics, Nations League and World Cup. I do not need to give them additional motivation – added the coach -. This is a great group, they are special girls, they are not only strong on the field. Working with them, who have so many qualities, is truly a pleasure”.

The Women’s Volleyball World Cup will be held in Thailand from Aug. 22 to Sept. 7, in the locations of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima and Phuket. Italy is placed in Group B with Slovakia, Cuba and Belgium: the top two in the group advance to the knockout stage, which includes the round of 16, quarters, semifinals, final for bronze and the finals.