Historic Italy: knocked out Brazil, third Nations League in four years
The sky is blue over Lodz. CT Julio Velasco’s Italy writes a new page of history by beating Brazil in four sets to win its third Volleyball Nations League in four years. Ankara 2022, Bangkok 2024 and now Lodz 2025. The Italvolley girls have done it again and this time adding to it an unbeaten streak never seen in the VNL.
The 2025 gold comes at the end of a perfect run punctuated by 15 wins in 15 matches played that added to those obtained in 2024 (between VNL and Olympics) make 29 consecutive in official matches. Record of successes with the’last one, the one for glory in Lodz, came against Brazil 3-1 (22-25; 25-18; 25-22; 25-22) of legend Ze Roberto, defeated, as in Rio de Janeiro (week 1) at the end of a match that saw the Azzurri do what they have been doing throughout the tournament: dominate, overturn every difficulty, succeed in overcoming their limits.
Better viaticum to the World Championships could hardly be for an’Italy that will go to the rainbow event in Thailand with one more gold medal around its neck. First, however, for captain Danesi and companions there will be a few days of well-deserved break starting Monday. when CT Julio Velasco’s invincibles will land in Malpensa (at about 9:45 a.m.) on a direct Warsaw flight.
“We are really happy with this victory, because it came against a very strong team like Brazil – commented Velasco, as read on the Federvolley website -. We did not play our best volley, however, we managed to win, thanks also to the fundamental contribution of the players who came in from the bench”.
“I am really proud of this group, it can count on very good players who have the merit and the mentality of wanting to work at their best every day. Today the only negative note is Alice Degradi’s injury. We know that challenging weeks lie ahead, all of our opponents will do their best to beat us, when you are at the top everyone has the ambition to surpass you. We will try our best to prepare for the World Championship in Thailand. I want to thank the audience because it is always great to play in these settings”, Velasco added.
