Nations League, Italy still undefeated, bronze goes to Japan

Italy-Japan 2-3 (18-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-17, 9-15)
Like last year. Italy closes the Nations League with a slightly comfortable fourth place, as a result of two consecutive defeats against the United States and Japan. A knockout should lead De Giorgi to some corrective action in view of the European Championships in Italy (from August 28) and then to Olympic qualification in Brazil. Italy is still in shock when they start to play the match against Japan, who are still not playing Nishida (back injury replaced by Miyamura, who was also left-handed) and the team coached by Philippe Blaine (who also captained France and was world champions with Poland in 2014) flies away. Just Miyamura’s joke does important damage, Lavia is imperceptible and is replaced by Rinaldi. However, Italy does not turn around and clearly loses the first set. In the second set, he even leads by 4 points for the whole set, but when the time comes to close the Azzurri who have obvious problems changing the ball falter and Japan, always relying on attacks by Takahashi and above all Ishikawa, overcome and come close: they score 2-0.

counting

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The Azzurri finally got back to the wall and managed to put Japan under the block. Now Lafia is feeling better and even Romano is doing his job as a striker. For Japan, it is suddenly difficult to get past the Italian wall and the Azzurri make it easier to control the situation and with a shot from Giannelli they shorten the distance. The fourth group comes after the third group, and Italy catches its breath, the attack improves in percentages, and Di Giorgi’s team equals the score. But in the tie-break, Japan’s best is seen again, serving and stunning the neutrally starting De Giorgi, immediately missing a right break and going down in the score 3-6, 4-8, 6-11. Once again, Ran Takahashi (new signing with Vero Volley Monza) and then Ishikawa give Japan their first historic medal in the event. Italy is still at the bottom of the podium as it was a year ago in Bologna.