World Cup: Italy in semifinals, Belgium overwhelmed

Reigning world champion Italy is in the semifinals at the men’s volleyball world championships in the Philippines. In the quarterfinals, Ferdinando De Giorgi’s Azzurri literally overwhelmed Belgium, by whom they had been beaten on tie-break in the preliminary round, 3-0. 25-13 25-18 25-18 were the partials.

De Giorgi started with the same lineup as in the last few matches with the Giannelli-Romanò diagonal, Michieletto and Bottolo the hammers, Gargiulo and Russo in the middle with Balaso free. Zanini’s Belgium responded with D’Hulst at setter, Reggers opposite, Deroo and Desmet setters, Coolman and Fafchamps the centerbacks with Lantsoght free.

In the first set, an 8-1 partial lead that took Italy from 4-4 to 13-5 was decisive. In the second, the initial 7-2 partial immediately virtually closes the accounts. A bit more balance in the third set, in which the Belgians are even ahead 7-5, but from 10-10 a stretch of 4 points in a row by Italy decides the set and the match.

This is the seventh time that men’s Italvolley has finished among the four best teams in the world. Now in the semifinals De Giorgi’s boys will meet the winner between Poland and Turkey.