In the second match in Doha the Azzurri let themselves be caught in the last quarter (from 9-7 to 9-9, final 15-14) and compromise their lead in the group: they will have to go through the threat of the second round
The most mocking epilogue, for a night of regrets. The Settebello lost on penalties against Hungary, compromising direct access to the quarterfinals of the World Cup and waiting to find out their opponent for the round of 16: one between Montenegro and the United States. “It’s a shame, we had the game in hand” says coach Sandro Campagna to Rai microphones, commenting on the 15-14 with which the reigning champions prevailed after a 9-9 draw in regulation time. Already opponents in the European Championship in Zagreb last month (one victory each, the Azzurri victorious in the bronze final), when however Varga had brought an experimental group of youngsters, Italy and Hungary gave life to an extraordinarily intense match. Settebello between the second and third periods with a break of 4-0 goes ahead 6-4 dragged by Di Fulvio, holds the double advantage also at 7-5 and then at 9-7 in the last quarter, but in 17 second goals from Jansik in superiority and from Zalanki in counterattack (ball lost by Cannella) sent the outcome to penalties. The errors of Di Somma and Renzuto were canceled out by the saves of Nicosia, launched by Campagna between the posts in place of Del Lungo, but in the end it was Echenique who made the mistake. There is still some suffering to be done to get one of the four Olympic passes up for grabs. The Sicilian coach explains: “It was a great match, we gave it to each other and we held up both physically and mentally, except for the final episodes. I’m sure that this match will make us grow further”. Yet we only managed to concede two goals with the men tied. Hungary thus puts the group lead in the safe: on Friday they will finish against small Kazakhstan while we will face Romania.
HUNGARY-ITALY 15-14 pen.
HUNGARY: S. Vogel, Angyal, K. Manhercz 2, Pohl, Vamos 1, Ad. Nagy, Zalanki 1, Fekete 1, Nemet, S. Jansik 1, P. Kovacs, Vi. Vigvari 2, Banyai. All. Z. Varga. ITALY: Del Lungo, F. Di Fulvio 3, Marziali 1, A. Fondelli 1, Cannella, Renzuto, Echenique 2, N. Presciutti, Bruni, E. Di Somma 1, Velotto 1, F. Condemi, Nicosia. Campaign Annex. REFEREES: Stavridis (Gre) and Ohme (Ger). NOTE: regulation time 9-9. Top number Hungary 14 (7 goals), Italy 11 (4). At 31′ he went out. 3 rows Di Fulvio, esp. Pads for protests.
Penalty sequence: E. Di Somma out, Vamos goal, Renzuto saved, Manhercz goal, Echenique goal, Zalanki goal (in Nicosia goal), N. Presciutti goal, S. Jansik saved, Cannella goal, Angyal saved, E. Di Somma goal, Vamos goal, Renzuto goal, Manhercz goal, Echenique saved, Zalanki goal.
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: Australia, South Africa, Croatia, Spain.
Group B: Greece, Brazil, China, France.
Group C: Serbia, Montenegro, Japan, USA.
Group D: Italy, Kazakhstan, Romania, Hungary.
Monday 5: Italy-Kazakhstan 33-3, Hungary-Romania 15-8.
Wednesday 7: Romania-Kazakhstan 25-3, Hungary-Italy 15-14 pen. (9-9). Ranking: Hungary 5; Italy 4; Romania 3; Kazakhstan 0.
Friday 9th: Kazakhstan-Hungary (8.30), Italy-Romania (10).
Sunday 11th eighth. Tuesday 13th quarter. Thursday 15th semi-finals. Saturday 17 finals.
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