Volleyball: Nations League, Italy raises its head, beats Cuba

Italy-Cuba 3-1 (25-20, 25-19, 20-25, 25-18) Italy wins the first match of this Nations League by beating Cuba, a team filled with players who have gained experience in our league. But this time it is the Azzurri who prevail after two consecutive knockouts. De Giorgi changes the formation. Sanguinetti and Rinaldi leave (in place of Recine), the Modenese couple who exploded this year. Italy is more at ease than Argentina and the United States and Italy grinds the game and points and the match immediately gets on the blue tracks. Italy makes less mistakes unlike the Caribbean who don’t seem to have a great feeling with coach Vives (who almost don’t listen) and above all with the setter, who has been a problem for Cuba for some time now. Italy goes off smoothly and conquers the first two sets of this Nations League after two burning 3-0 wins in the first two games. With Bottolo driver in attack well supported by Romanò. Cuba runs for cover by changing director Taboada on the bench and Trondike on the pitch. The team recovers also because Italy has more than one empty passage. De Giorgi also makes some substitutions, but the third set is compromised and Cuba takes it home. At the beginning of the fourth set is the most delicate moment.

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Cuba seems to have the right momentum even if Herrera (Perugia) had another lackluster day. The game relies more on the hammers and the center and the performance of the striker who will be coached by Lorenzetti in the next championship will not remain unforgettable. Vives changes again to try to reach parity, but Italy resists with the great personality of Paolo Porro who, despite the few centimeters he has, wins a goal tackle against two Cuban big players. The first victory of 2023 is also approaching Romanò relaxes and conquers the full loot to start climbing up the standings. The week ends against Germany on Saturday evening (7 pm), another victory would totally change the perspective of this Canadian away match for De Giorgi’s Italy.