Mediterranean Games, water polo: Italy overwhelms Turkey 13-2

Italy’s journey in water polo at the Mediterranean Games begins with a victory. The Under 18 team led by Alberto Angelini beat Turkey 13-2 (2-1; 4-1; 3-0; 4-0). A match managed from start to finish by the azzurrini, despite the initial tension of participating in such an important event: it is the first time, in fact, that the event has been restricted to the very young (historically participation was open to absolute players).

“For them it is an amazing scenario – explains coach Angelini -. The village, the many disciplines, the public, is all new for these guys. In addition, they know little and have yet to find their game. But they are showing a great spirit, they want to give their contribution through fatigue and sacrifice ”.

The match

–

A first quarter started with the handbrake on, but closed the lead 2-1. From there the rise with a wild Nicola Taramasco, author of 4 of the 13 blue goals. The others came from Nenni (2), Bragantini (2), Cora (2), Urbinati, Rocchino and Nuzzo. “We only met the day before yesterday – continues Angelini -, this first match was a testing ground for trying to do something new: a game made up of pressing and a lot of movement, which is expensive even if the athletic conditions are a a bit precarious as many of them have just finished the championship. They are all guys who play in A2 or in the youth teams, being in this type of event can be a great emotion but it can also slow down. All this will make their history as players, athletes and men ”.

The group

–

The road to success is all uphill for our Azzurrini, who ended up in an iron group with Greece and Spain, respectively silver and bronze at the Under18 European Championships. The two teams met today with the Spanish win 12-11. “It will be tough, but it can be one more reason to find concentration, even if the defeats come later. They are two teams that have been training together for a while because the championships ended earlier. We aim to do well, but above all to find amalgam and a game that this Italy can best express “. A journey that has just begun for this national team, ready to experiment with an eye already pointed towards the August World Cup in Belgrade.