At the Nations League in China the Italians win and produce great performances, now the semi-final with the green and gold orphans of Gabi and Julia
There is an Italian national team that continues to win and put on a show around the world. Let’s talk about volleyball girls coached by Julio Velasco, the Argentine magician who has achieved only victories since he sat on the blue bench. These days in China Italvolley is involved in the Nations League, events of which we have won the last two editions (3 successes in the last four). Italy has a performance bordering on perfection beat the Netherlands in three sets in just 71 minutes. A performance of the highest level which confirms the solidity of a team that thrives in big events and always manages to find the right stimuli even if the seasons between club and national teams are exhausting. Velasco doesn’t lower the bar: “There are two games left and it will be important to continue pushing to give our best.”
Italy in full
At the beginning of the event the coach was a little worried about some absences, but during the tournament all the girls recovered excellent form. “Even those who enjoyed extra rest returned very well, we are now at full strength and we are certainly a difficult team to face when the athletes are all fit”. The semi-final with Brazil beating Japan on Saturday, a challenge that is renewed, now the rivalry with the green and gold has made the history of world volleyball. In this Nations League Italy and Brazil have already faced each other and Zè Roberto’s team won 3-2, but Velasco did not have Fahr, Danesi, Orro Silla and Egonu available. This time, however, Italy will be in full force and Brazil will not be able to count on the champion Gabi (out since the beginning of the season due to a lower back problem) and Julia Kudiessthe 23-year-old central defender who has just been purchased by Novara and who suffered a lesion to the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee. The number one danger will therefore be Ana Cristina who scored 22 points in Brazil’s last match against Japan. But the forecast for match number 90 between Italy and Brazil seems decidedly favorable to Velasco’s team. Victory in the Nations League would be worth a prize of 891,000 euros for the Italians and in the worst case scenario (fourth place) they would take home 265,000.
