Nations League, Italy stops in the quarterfinals, overwhelmed by Turkey

Italy’s run in the Nations League ends in the quarterfinals, in the Final Eight in Arlington, Texas. Mazzanti’s team slams against a Turkey (coached by the Conegliano coach Daniele Santarelli) much more prepared against the block who doesn’t hesitate to crash the match from the very first exchanges while the Azzurri lose too easily. The semifinals are therefore Poland-China and the United States-Türkiye.

Italy-Türkiye 0-3 (20-25, 15-25, 18-25)

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Mazzanti lined up Bosio-Nwakalor, Sylla-Villani, Danesi-Mazzaro, Fersino free. Turkey with Sahin-Vargas, Aydin-Karakurt, Gunes-Erdem, Orge free Turkey very prepared to block against the blues. Nwakalor canceled, Villani unravels better and the Bosio-Mazzaro agreement is always discreet but it is not enough, forcing Italy to make a run-up. Karakurt also holds up well in reception allowing Santarelli to take advantage of the combined firepower of him and Vargas who closes the set without problems. The trend does not change in the second set with the blues too predictable in attack and always well marked against the block. Nwakalor remains out of the game and it becomes easy for the Turks to control the game and lead which becomes abysmal (+10) digging insecurities in the blue field. Mazzanti inserts Omoruyi and Degradi for Sylla and Villani, then also the Gennari-Malual diagonal but Turkey also takes the second set without problems. In the third Mazzanti puts Degradi back on the field for Sylla but the 5-1 start for Turkey is symptomatic of a match Italy has never entered. Even the subsequent changes are not enough to find a different trend in the match and the match goes to the Turks.

European target

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Thus Italy closes the first part of its summer season. The second begins on August 15 with the first match of the European Championship at the Verona Arena. There is expectation for the return of the big names: Orro, Egonu, Pietrini and the power plants Fahr and Lubian while Chirichella and De Gennaro it is already known that they will not take part in the blue season.