The Italian national team surrenders 0-3 (20-25, 21-25, 21-25) against France in the Semifinal of the Paris Olympic Games. However, the adventure of the Azzurri is not over yet, as they will return to the field tomorrow, Friday 9 August at 4.00 pm, in the match valid for the bronze medal against the United States, defeated in a tie-break by Poland in the other Semi-final.
The hosts therefore fly to the Final after a well-played match in which they were able to immediately impose their own rhythm, led by spikers Clevenot (17) and Ngapeth (15) who were almost unstoppable in attack. Italy, on the other hand, struggled to keep the level of their game high, with low percentages in attack and finding little satisfaction on serve. Factors that allowed France to practically always have the match in hand. With 10 points scored, Romanò is the only Italian player in double figures; 9 for Russo, 8 for Lavia and 7 for Michieletto, the latter replaced at the beginning of the third set for Luca Porro (2 points).
The Azzurri will now try to conclude the Olympic experience with a smile by trying to win the bronze in Friday’s match against the United States, who seriously put Poland in crisis in the first Semi-final. The USA led 2-1 in the set count and for a good part of the fourth set; despite some physical ailments, the Polish national team was then able to come together and turn the match around in the fifth set. Center back Taylor Averill is the only player from the United States who will play in the next Credem Banca SuperLega (he will play in Vero Volley Monza), but the majority of the players in the squad have played in the Italian Serie A in the past.
For the Italian national team it will be the fifth 3rd-4th place final in its history after Los Angeles 1984 (bronze), Sydney 2000 (bronze), Beijing 2008 (fourth place) and London 2012 (bronze).
