VNL 2022: Italy defeat The Netherlands in four sets to take Semifinal ticket
2 min read
Italy made happy their home supporters in Bologna in the final tournament of the 2022 FIVB Men’s Volleyball Nations League.
They had to fight a lot to overcome a combative Netherlands in second quarter-finals of the day, but in the end the fans at the Unipol Arena in Bologna went to their homes with smiles on their faces.
Italy unexpectedly lost the first set, snatched the second, dominated the third, and avoided a possible Dutch comeback in the fourth.
And so, for the first time in the short history of the competition, Italy, the current Europan champions, claim the ticket for semi-finals.
Yuri Romanò was the top scorer today on the winning side with 16 points, while 21-year-old Dutch outside hitter Bennie Junior Tuinstra was the top scorer of the game with 20 points. Both added four aces.
“We are very proud to be here and play in front of our fans. The atmosphere here in Bologna is amazing. We did not start the match so well and the Netherlands are a very good team with some champions inside. We knew that and we kept playing, we kept pushing and in the end we won the match. We are an amazing group and we are playing for Italy with a good, strong mentality. We have to improve our game, but I am very proud of my team!” said Simone Giannelli, setter and captain of Italy after the game.
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🏐| VNL 2022: Final 8 @ Bologna
— July 20, 2022 —
• 18.00 (Local Time) QUARTERFINAL 1 | USA (3) – Brazil (6) 3-1 (20:25, 25:22, 25:23, 25:17)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 21.00 (Local Time) QUARTERFINAL 2 | Italy (1) – The Netherlands (8) 3-1 (21:25, 25:22, 25:13, 25:22)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
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— July 21, 2022 —
• 18.00 (Local Time) QUARTERFINAL 3 | France (5) – Japan (5) 3-0 (26:24, 25:16, 25:20)
• 21.00 (Local Time) QUARTERFINAL 4 | Poland (2) – Iran (7) 3-2 (25:21, 24:26, 25:18, 16:25, 15:7)
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— July 23, 2022 —
• SEMIFINAL 1 | 18.00 (Local Time) Poland – USA 0-3 (22:25, 23:25, 13:25)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• SEMIFINAL 2 | 21.00 (Local Time) Italy- France 0-3 (22:25, 20:25, 15:25)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
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— July 24, 2022 —
• FINAL 3/4 | 18.00 (Local Time) Italy – Poland
• FINAL 1/2 | 21.00 (Local Time) France – USA
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