An easy debut for the Azzurri in Belgrade: Condemi’s poker and Di Somma’s hat-trick. Campaign: “It’s the right spirit, but we need to improve.” Slovakia is on Tuesday
The first walk goes to the archive: 19-8 over Turkey, so the Settebello breaks the ice in the European Championship in Belgrade (it is worth saying this, considering the polar temperatures outside the Stark Arena). Game already closed in the first half – at 7-1 – against a team that in the continental review has never gone beyond tenth place, in any case they do honor and to which the Greek coach Loudis is giving sufficient tactical discipline. A training session or little more for the Azzurri, supported by Condemi (poker) and Di Somma (hat-trick). After the first interval, the Azzurri had many inaccuracies in their passes, but the attention span cannot always be high in matches like this. From the middle of the third quarter, between the posts, De Michelis replaced Del Lungo. Italy prefers perimeter play and gains its first numerical superiority only in the 20th minute, in the end the Turks curiously gain more (8 against 5). The maximum advantage in the 30th minute with Balzarini’s goal, 19-7. Alesiani comes out bleeding from his left eyebrow, due to a clash in the final minutes. Absent is Iocchi Gratta who served the third of the four-match suspension he received at last year’s World Cup against Greece. “I’m satisfied despite a few errors – comments coach Sandro Campagna – but it’s the price of youth and debutants. The spirit is right, but we certainly need to improve”. We return to the water on Tuesday against Slovakia, then the group will conclude on Thursday with Romania, again with RaiSport coverage. Then there will be much more difficult exams.
Group D: Italy-Türkiye 19-8, Romania-Slovakia (15.15). Ranking: Italy 3; Türkiye, Romania*, Slovakia* 0. (*one game less)
Tuesday 13: Slovakia-Italy (18), Romania-Türkiye (20.30).
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 Saturday 24th. The finals on the 25th.
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