WCH 2022: Italy defeat Poland in four sets - WORLD CHAMPIONS!

WCH 2022: Italy defeat Poland in four sets – WORLD CHAMPIONS!

2 min read

11 September 2022 Ivan

A fantastic European Champions Italy regain world title after 24 years!
Italy dominated a disappointing hosts Poland with a 3-1 (22:25, 25:21, 25:18, 25:20) victory in the final, silencing a packed Spodek Arena in Katowice and triumphed at the FIVB Volleyball World Championship 2022, in the gold medal match of the 20th edition of the tournament.

| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

A few hours earlier, Brazil defeated Slovenia 3-1 to claim bronze, taking their place on the podium for the sixth-straight time at a World Championship, following golds in 2002, 2006 and 2010, and silvers in 2014 and 2018.

The title, on the other hand, was the fourth won by Italy, who also topped the podium in 1990, 1994 and 1998.
Their country is now the second with the most triumphs in the competition, trailing only the former Soviet Union, who won the World Championship in 1949, 1952, 1960, 1962, 1978 and 1982.
Interestingly, Head coach Ferdinando De Giorgi is the only Italian to have been a part of each of the country’s four victories: in fact, the 60-year-old was part of the roster in the 1990, 1994 and 1998 competitions as the team’s setter, before leading the squad from the sidelines in their campaign of seven victories this year in Poland and Slovenia.

The victory was also special for 20-year-old outside hitter Alessandro Michieletto. In fact, after winning the U19 world title in 2019 and the U21 world title last year, he joins a small group of players who won gold medals at all three levels, also including Brazil’s Nalbert Bittencourt and Leandro Vissotto, and Poles Jakub Kochanowski and Bartosz Kwolek.
In the gold medal match, Italy took advantage from the very good performances from their three main offensive players.
Outside hitter Daniele Lavia led was the top scorer with 19 points, including two blocks and one ace, while fellow outside hitter Michieletto also contributed with 14 points (including two blocks and one ace), one more than opposite Yuri Romanò, who produced all of his 13 points in attack.
Poland’s top scorer was outside hitter Aleksander Sliwka, who scored 12 points including three winning blocks, while Kamil Semeniuk also reached double digits with 11 points, all in attack.
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🏐| 2022 FIVB WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP | FINALS

September 11, 2022 | 📍Katowice, Poland

🥇|GOLD MEDAL MATCH

• 21.00 (Local Time) Poland – Italy 1-3 (25:22, 21:25, 18:25, 20:25)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

🏆| AWARDS CEREMONY