The Italian women’s national volleyball team secured the top spot in Pool D at the European Championship by defeating France 3-1 at the Scandinavium Arena in Göteborg, according to match reports. Head coach Julio Velasco’s squad dropped their first set of the tournament before rallying to claim victory with set scores of 25-19, 19-25, 25-23, and 25-19. With the win, the Azzurre completed the group stage with a flawless 5-0 record, surrendering just a single set across five matches in Göteborg.
First Set Turning Point and Bah Injury
Playing before a crowd of 863 spectators in Göteborg, Velasco abandoned his turnover strategy and deployed a starting lineup featuring Orro at setter, Egonu opposite, Sylla and Antropova as outside hitters, Danesi and Fahr in the middle, and Fersino as libero. The match opened with a dominant Italian push, racing to a 6-1 lead fueled by a block and an ace from Danesi. However, France clawed back into the set behind four block points and low attacking percentages from the Italians. At 18-17, French outside hitter Halimalou Bah suffered a right ankle injury while landing from a blocking sequence. According to match accounts, the injury rattled the team of Hernandez, allowing the Azzurre to close out the opening frame on a 7-2 run.
French Resistance and Second-Set Equalizer
France rebounded strongly in the second set as the team leveled the match. The introduction of substitute Ratahiry brought stability, while opposite Depie posed problems for the Italian block, tallying eight points in the second frame alone. Egonu tried to shoulder the offensive load for Italy with seven points in the set, but the Azzurre could not keep pace. Velasco tried to spark a comeback by replacing Orro with Cambi and resting Antropova for Giovannini in the back row, but the gap proved insurmountable as France captured the second set to tie the match.
Third-Set Drama and Video Check Controversy
The third set mirrored the tactical struggles of the second, with the French block and defense stifling Italy’s attackers. Trailing 14-11, a video check controversy interrupted the flow of the match after a disputed point awarded to the Italians was momentarily reversed. Following lengthy discussions, the point was restored to Italy, an incident that appeared to ignite the team. The Azzurre immediately responded with a 5-0 scoring burst to reclaim the lead, eventually sealing the set 25-23 on a soft touch by Egonu.
Fourth-Set Surge and Knockout Stage Outlook
France threatened to force a tie-break by taking an early initiative in the fourth set, forcing Velasco to call a timeout when his team fell behind 13-16. The tactical adjustment paid immediate dividends as Italy rattled off a 6-0 run that broke open the set, with Fahr putting down the final point to secure the 25-19 victory and the match. Following the conclusion of Pool D play, the Italian delegation will travel on Friday to Brno, Czech Republic. The Azzurre will contest their round-of-16 fixture on Sunday or Monday against the fourth-place finisher from Pool B, which will be decided between Greece, Bulgaria, or Ukraine.
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