In Doha the Azzurri win 13-12 in the round of 16 with hat-tricks from Fondelli and Di Fulvio, they win the Games and on Tuesday they will challenge Greece. Happy campaign: “Great character”
The first mission is accomplished, the most important. The 13-12 in the World Cup round of 16 against the United States (3-3, 3-4, 4-4, 3-4) is also worth the pass for the Games, now we will be able to face the final matches in Doha with serenity starting from the fourth with Greece scheduled for Tuesday at 3.30pm. “I have never had any doubts about this group, playing under pressure and stress makes us grow further. And we have shown that we have character” exults coach Sandro Campagna on Rai microphones. Start of contract, Renzuto sent off for violent play in the 14th minute (the same fate will befall Woodhead two minutes later), then the Azzurri are also ahead by three goals at 7-4. Thrilling last half with the Americans catching Italy at 10-1st: Di Somma scores on a counterattack, Di Fulvio in numerical superiority, Hooper shortens with the extra man, then Di Somma’s penalty and Bowen’s superiority establish the score.
PROTAGONISTS
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Hat-tricks from Fondelli and a stellar Di Fulvio, series of feats from Del Lungo between the posts. This time all our penalties hit the target (3) in a very badly refereed match. In the stands Cannella and Damonte, against Greece we will not have Renzuto who will be disqualified.
And tomorrow at 6.30pm it’s Setterosa’s turn: the quarterfinals with Greece (fresh rematch of the final for the European bronze, lost by the Italians) could already give the pass to Silipo’s team. It will depend on the results of Canada (against Spain) and Hungary (against the Netherlands), the contenders for the two Olympic places available. The other match is United States-Australia.
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: Spain 9; Croatia 6; Australia 3; South Africa 0.
Group B: Greece 9; France 6; China 3; Brazil 0.
Group C: Serbia 9; Montenegro 5; Use 4; Japan 0.
Group D: Hungary 8; Italy 7; Romania 3; Kazakhstan 0.
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 11th: round of 16 Croatia-China 22-4, France-Australia 11-8, Montenegro-Romania 12-9, Italy-USA 13-12.
Tuesday 13th: quarterfinals Spain-Montenegro (14th), Greece-Italy (3.30pm), Serbia-Croatia (17th), Hungary- (6.30pm). Thursday 15th: semi-finals. Saturday 17: finals.
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