Everything is ready for the start of the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, which this year will see Paris as the protagonist city. The Italian national volleyball team left Rome yesterday morning to reach the venue of the Games. The Games will officially begin at 7.30pm on Friday 26 July with the Opening Ceremony, while Italy’s debut on the pitch is set for Saturday, at 1pm, against Brazil.
The Olympic adventure will continue on Tuesday 30 July when, at 9.00 am, Italy will face Egypt, while the group stage will end on Saturday 3 August with the match, at 5.00 pm, against Poland.
Below are the Italian players called up and their respective teams.
Setters: Simone Giannelli (Captain, Sir Susa Vim Perugia) and Riccardo Sbertoli (Itas Trentino).
Spikers: Alessandro Michieletto (Itas Trentino), Daniele Lavia (Itas Trentino), Luca Porro (Sonepar Padova), Mattia Bottolo (Cucine Lube Civitanova).
Power plants: Gianluca Galassi (Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza), Roberto Russo (Sir Susa Vim Perugia), Giovanni Sanguinetti (Valsa Group Modena).
Opposites: Yuri Romanò (Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza), Alessandro Bovolenta (Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza).
Libero: Fabio Balaso (Cucine Lube Civitanova).
Reserve: Gabriele Laurenzano (Itas Trentino).
The Italian national team’s group stage calendar
Saturday 27 July 2024, 1pm
Italy – Brazil
Tuesday 30 July 2024, 9.00 am
Italy – Egypt
Saturday 3 August 2024, 5.00 pm
Italy – Poland
The calendar of the direct elimination phase
Monday 5 August 2024
Quarter Finals 9.00 am; 1.00 pm; 5.00 pm; 9.00 pm
Wednesday 7 August 2024
Semi-finals at 4.00pm and 8.00pm
Friday 9 August 2024
Bronze medal final at 4.00 pm
Saturday 10 August 2024
Gold medal final at 1.00pm
The formula
The twelve participants will be divided into three groups. At the end of the group stage, a general ranking will be drawn up which will decide the eight teams that will continue their Olympic journey; the top two from each group plus the two best third-placed teams will qualify for the direct elimination phase (Quarter Finals). The quarter-final pairings will be as follows:
QF1: 1 vs 8
QF2: 2 vs 7
QF3: 3 vs 6
QF4: 4 vs 5
The winning teams from the Quarterfinals will advance to the Semifinals with the following scheme:
SF1: WQF1 vs WQF4
SF2: WQF2 vs WQF3
