Water polo, lights and shadows for the Settebello: Slovakia beaten 17-12

This time it’s not a walk in the park, but the positive side is that this way we train better. After the goleada against Turkey, in the second match of the European Championship the Settebello beat Slovakia without shining: 17-12 with poker from Di Somma and hat-tricks from Ferrero Bruni and Condemi. “There was a great start, then at 4-0 we lost a bit of certainty in attack, also thanks to their goalkeeper. But frankly there were an infinite number of expulsions whistled against us, which I don’t agree with. These were not the refereeing instructions given on the eve of the technical committee”, comments coach Sandro Campagna. Words to be fully endorsed. It is the Portuguese Silva, in particular, who completely loses his bearings, while the Serbian Rakovic does less damage.

PAUSES

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Still without Iocchi Gratta, who served the last of his four-match suspension from last year’s World Cup, in the Stark Arena in Belgrade the Azzurri started off with momentum and struck with precision on the counterattack, but then struggled: after having conceded the goal that brought the Slovaks closer in the second half (6-5), Campagna called a time out which was worth a small shock. Success never in question, but too many hesitations in the offensive phase and several lapses in defense. In the third half, at 9-7, De Michelis takes Del Lungo’s place between the posts. “Better contested challenges, they help us grow. And we need to adapt to certain types of refereeing” is the thought of Edoardo Di Somma. “They worried us in the centre, well done to them, but step by step we will grow” observes Alessandro Carnesecchi. Applause to the tenacious Slovakia, a team that focuses on experience rather than youth, never higher than seventh place in the continental championship (2003). Durik, center forward of Pro Recco, shines together with goalkeeper Kozmer. On the bench Polacik, center forward of the 1990 Italian champion Canottieri Napoli. Thursday at 3.15pm, against Romania (live on RaiSport), our last match in the first phase.

CONTROVERSY

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Meanwhile, around Serbia which hosts the event, two cases in two matches. On the opening day, a phantom goal from the Netherlands – the potential surprise victory – was canceled because it was considered to have expired, but from the images it would seem otherwise (then the home team prevailed on penalties). Then, in the second match, the expulsion of the star Mandic for violent play after review at the VAR – elbowing the Spaniard Granados at the start of the last quarter – which however did not prevent the Slavs from winning 12-11, despite the 4′ numerical inferiority: a decision harshly contested by the coach Stevanovic. Well yes, life is a wheel.

ITALY: Del Lungo, Cassia, Alesiani 1, Del Basso 1, Ferrero 3 (2 pens), E. Di Somma 4, Dolce 2, T. Gianazza, Bruni 3, F. Condemi 3, Carnesecchi, De Michelis, Balzarini, Antonucci. Campaign Annex. SLOVAKIA: Kozmer, Mihal 1, Tisaj 1, M. Molnar, Durik 2, Maros Tkac 2 (1 pen.), Seman, Marek Tkac, Furman 1, Bielik 1, Caraj 1, Balaz 3 (1 pen.), Balogh, Juhasz. All. Polacik. REFEREES (Srb) and Silva (Por). NOTES: top number Italy 10 (4 goals), Slovakia 19 (7). Exit 3 rows Del Basso in the 22nd minute, Antonucci in the 27th minute, Dolce in the 31st minute.

First day: Italy-Türkiye 19-8, Romania-Slovakia 16-8.

Second day: Italy-Slovakia 17-12, Romania-Türkiye 20-19.

Classification: Italy, Romania 6; Slovakia, Türkiye 0.

Thursday 15th: Türkiye-Slovakia (12.45), Romania-Italy (15.15).

The other groups – Malta, France, Montenegro, Hungary (A); Slovenia, Greece, Croatia, Georgia (B); Holland, Israel, Serbia. Spain (C).

The formula – Four groups of four teams, at the end the top three of each group form two groups of six teams each, taking with them the points won – together with the goals scored and conceded – and playing against those they didn’t face in the first phase. Then crossed semi-finals for the top two of each group on Friday 23rd. The finals on Sunday 25th.