DEFENDING champion Italy began its FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship title defense in style with a 25-13, 25-22, 25-17 sweep of Algeria on Sunday.
The Italians’ multi-awarded 6-foot-11 tower, Ale Michieletto, set the tone for the reigning champions with 15 points on 11 attacks, two blocks and two aces.
National team returnee Mattia Bottolo, who filled in for the injured Daniele Lavia, added 13 points ahead of mainstay utility hitter Yuri Romano’s 11 markers.
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The win wasn’t easy as the Algerians, despite being the lowest-ranked team in the entire tournament at No. 88, nearly snatched a set away from the world No. 2.
Algeria had a 21-17 lead in the second set that it led for the most part. That cushion was wiped off in a flash as Italy mustered an 8-1 blitz to avoid a rare collapse.
“It was important to win because the first match in all competitions, especially in the world championship are so so nervous, because we want to play,” said Italy head coach Ferdinando de Giorgi.
“Every game in this world championship is very difficult. The second set today, we almost lost so we’re very happy to start with an important win,” Michieletto added.
Upsets completed and averted
In what has been a tournament of upsets just three days in, Egypt and Czechia joined the growing list of lower-ranked teams to pin down top squads in their respective pools.
No. 23 Egypt stunned 12th-ranked Iran, also second in all of Asia in this year’s FIVB Worlds, in a 25-17, 16-25, 25-23, 25-20 decision to bring the African side one step closer to a breakthrough Round of 16 spot.
Ninth-ranked Argentina bucked No. 18 Finland’s upset bid by completing the tournament’s first reverse sweep in the first five-set contest, 19-25, 18-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-11.
China also gave a powerhouse team a run for its money, putting up a brave stand against reigning FIVB Worlds bronze medalist Brazil that just fell short in four sets, 25-19, 23-25, 22-25, 21-25.
Reigning two-time Olympic gold medalist France and emerging European giants Belgium also picked up opening wins against Korea and Serbia, respectively.
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