In the third match of the first phase, in Doha, the Azzurri only extended their lead towards the end. Five missed penalties, five goals for Di Fulvio, in the round of 16 against USA or Montenegro
Sore penalties, but luckily there wasn’t a big player in front. The Settebello missed five shots from five meters (out of seven attempts), recalling the mockery of two days earlier against Hungary, when the bitter epilogue had compromised the lead in the group: in Doha against Romania they still ended easily ( 16-10) after a complicated start, in the last match of the preliminary phase of the World Cup. “It wasn’t a bad thing to suffer a little, to prepare even better for Sunday’s round of 16” observes coach Sandro Campagna to Rai microphones. Group D finished in second place, we are waiting to find out whether we will face the United States (already qualified for the Games, the last four passes are up for grabs here) or Montenegro: it will depend on Serbia-United States scheduled for 3.30pm. Against the young and tenacious team coached by the Italian-Romanian Rath, who was a student of Campagna in blue, the Settebello managed to extend their lead only between the third and fourth periods, when they sank in speed with a 5-0 break which was worth 16- 9. “We faced a great team, congratulations to them. I liked our attitude in attack – explains Campagna – on which we had worked hard after the defeat against Hungary. The downside is that we lost a bit of attention defensive: we need more balance. Missed penalties? In a match with little emotional charge it can happen, but you have to go for the shot lightly and without fear.” Romanian goalkeeper Tic is rightly awarded MVP of the match, and not only for the penalties he saved (but Georgescu, a real talent, also shines). Five goals for Di Fulvio, man-everywhere. Between the posts, Nicosia takes Del Lungo’s place at the end of the second quarter. In the stands Marziali and Fondelli, among the spectators also the swimming star Benedetta Pilato.
ITALY: Del Lungo, F. Di Fulvio 5 (1 pen.), Damonte, Cannella 1, Renzuto 1, Echenique 1, N. Presciutti 1 pen., Bruni 2, E. Di Somma, Velotto 1, F. Condemi 2, Iocchi Scratch 2, Nicosia. Campaign Annex. ROMANIA: Tic, Belenyesi, Lutescu 2, Fulea 2, Vranceanu, Prioteasa 1, Oanta, Colodrovschi 1, V. Georgescu 3, Iudean, Neamtu 1, Bota, Dragusin. All. Rath. REFEREES: Dervieux (Fra) and Letshabo (Saf). NOTE: upper number Italy 8 (4 goals), Romania 9 (6). Exit 3 rows V. Georgescu in the 17th minute. Tic saves the penalties of Condemi, E. Di Somma (2), Damonte, F. Di Fulvio.
Unlike the last European Championships, which divided the teams into two divisions, the game is played with the traditional format: the first teams in each group advance to the quarter-finals, the second and third-placed teams advance to the round of 16. TV on Rai 2 and RaiSport.
Group A: Australia, South Africa, Croatia, Spain.
Group B: Greece, Brazil, China, France.
Group C: Serbia, Montenegro, Japan, USA.
Group D: Italy, Kazakhstan, Romania, Hungary.
Monday 5: Italy-Kazakhstan 33-3, Hungary-Romania 15-8.
Wednesday 7: Romania-Kazakhstan 25-3, Hungary-Italy 15-14 pen. (9-9).
Friday 9th: Hungary-Kazakhstan 28-1, Italy-Romania 16-10. Ranking: Hungary 8; Italy 7; Romania 3; Kazakhstan 0.
Sunday 11: round of 16. Tuesday 13: quarterfinals. Thursday 15th: semi-finals. Saturday 17: finals.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED