Water polo: World gold goes to Spain, Italy knocked out at the last penalty

Spain triumphs, on penalties after a daring, complicated and intense match. Settebello is silver for a goal difference in the penalty lottery which suggests ancient challenges. What a pity not to be able to confirm. But Giacomo Cannella misses the fatal penalty and ends 15-14 after the 9-9 of regular time that had decreed a parity between strengths and weaknesses of two teams who found themselves in the final 3 years later. The fifth gold in history escapes the Settebello di Campagna, but it remains a national team to applause, new and to love.

RED FURIES

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In counter-escape, Granados immediately unlocks the match. Echenique sends on the crossbar, Del Lungo unravels a superiority by closing the door, but the var says yes to Munarriz and it is the Spanish doubling. Then Edo Di Somma bursts in for the 2-1: Settebello reacts with anger. But it is still Munarriz who surprises Del Lungo for 3-1. Damonte is intercepted by Aguirre, goalkeeper-revelation. We struggle to contain the red furies and in attack even Cinnamon sends on the woods. We waste too much in front of the door. Luckily the extra man helps Cinnamon to make up quickly: 2-3. Del Lungo appears to be more and more confident and Italy draws at 11 ”from the end of the first half (3-3). Granados brings Spain back, Martial and Echenique weakly pull on Aguirre: these are opportunities not to be wasted. Spain goes up to +2 (5-3) with Granados (extra man). Aguirre also intercepts Di Fulvio. And Tahull still with the extra man stretches to +3. A time without goals in the final is dangerous, as is absurd is the goal suffered by Perrone in the opening of the third set. Try to remedy Luca Martial for 4-7. Unleashed Granados, collects in superiority: 8-4. What a boulder on the blues. Cinnamon pulls out the -3 in superiority. Campaign changes goalkeeper: in Nicosia to shake up the team but also for a problem with Del Lungo’s hand. The second goalkeeper avoids two-three dangerous situations. And Fondelli in superiority breaks through for 6-8.

COME BACK

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Italy is closing the ranks, but it is always a painful pursuit of agile Spain. There are eight minutes left to rejoice or surrender. The Czech native Famera supports the net with the extra man and we return -3 (6-9), Aguirre says no to Bruni. Then Di Fulvio scores 7-9 on a penalty. It is not over yet even if 4 minutes are few to overturn the score. Vincenzo Dolce at 2’56 “breaks through for -1 (8-9). We fight to the end. At 2’03 “Nicholas Presciutti breaks through from 5 meters, surprising Aguirre: it is a tie (9-9). The defense is now very careful. A World Cup at the last minute. Indeed on penalties.

Campaign’s words: “An exponential growth of the team. Tell me one who also believed that we would make it to the podium. Maybe only us, our staff could believe it. What to say. I have to thank the guys. I’m not angry. When the team plays with the heart, I have nothing to say. What remains? The pleasure of having led an extraordinary team remains. In a new path. By doing amazing things. I can only thank you for what they have done and for the recovery. From here to the Olympics there are two world championships and two Europeans. The team is there, if it has this spirit and this desire to compete we can achieve great results ”.

The match report

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ITALY-SPAIN 14-15 (9-9 tr, 5-6 penalties) (3-3, 0-3, 3-2, 3-1 tr).

ITALY: Del Lungo (Nicosia), Di Fulvio 1 rig., Damonte, Iocchi Scratch, Fondelli 1, Cinnamon 2, Martial 1, Echenique, N. Presciutti 1, Bruni 1, Di Somma 1, Dolce 1. All. Campagna.

SPAIN: Aguirre, Munarriz Egana 2, Granados Ortega 4, Sanahuja, De Toro Dominguez, Larumbe Gonfaus, Famera 1, Cabanas Pegado, Tahull Compte 1, Perrone Rocha 1, Mallarach Gue ,, Bustos Sanchez; Lorrio. Herds Martin. Penalties: Perrone goal, Damonte goal, Granados goal, Cinnamon saved, Munarriz crossbar, Echenique goal, Larumbe goal, Di Fulvio goal, Cabanas goal, Presciutti goal, Perrone goal, Damonte goal, Granados goal, Cinnamon saved.

REFEREES: Margeta (Slo) and Stavridis (Gre).

NOTES: Numerical superiority Italy 9 (5 goals), Spain 15 (5). Released 3 Sanahuja fouls in the 4th half. De Somma expelled for incorrect play in the 4th half. About 6000 spectators. Other finals – 3rd place: Greece-Croatia 9-7; 5th place: Serbia-USA 13-10; 7th place: Hungary-Montenegro 8-6. The blue path – First phase 22-4 South Africa, Spain 12-14; round of 16: 17-6 Australia, quarter-finals 11-10 Hungary, semi-finals 11-10 Greece.

BRONZE

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Greece conquers the bronze medal: the Hellenes, Olympic silver in Tokyo, beat Croatia 9-7 in the final (1-0, 4-3, 3-2, 1-2). In the semifinals Greece had been beaten by Settebello 11-10.