A tenacious and stubborn Italy fails to make a comeback on the evening at the PalaVela and loses 2-3 (25-21, 26-28, 16-25, 25-20, 13-15) against Finland, which gains access to the semi-finals of the 2026 European Championships. The Finns will challenge France on Friday 25 September at the Unipol Forum in Assago.
Coach De Giorgi confirmed the starting line-up used in the round of 16, deploying the Giannelli-Romanò diagonal, Lavia and Bottolo the hammers, Sanguinetti and Mati central and Balaso libero.
On the other side of the net Finland coached by Kunnari with Valimaa as setter, Jokela as opposite, Martilla L. and Martilla N. spikers, Haapaniemi and Savonsalmi in the middle with Koykka as libero.
The match
There were 8260 spectators present at the Palavela. The set starts off well for the Azzurri who immediately take the lead (3-0). Lavia’s winning attack leads to (6-3), as the action progresses Finland, thanks to its spikers, tried to stay in the wake of the Azzurri (10-8, 11-10). Romanò’s ace puts Italy back on +3 (13-10) and the Finnish coach Kunnari calls the first time out of the match. An ace from Nooa Martilla first and an error from Bottolo bring the score to a draw (14-14) and this time it is De Giorgi who spends a time out to give instructions to his team. Upon returning to the field, the two teams were still fighting point to point (17-17, 18-18) until Mati’s “monster block” (20-18) which was repeated in the following action (21-18). In the end, good general management led up to 25-21 after 28 minutes of play. Romanò stands out in the set for Italy with 8 points, 2 aces.
In the second set Finland started well, taking the lead first (5-2) and then holding a break lead, until Giannelli’s winning attack brought the score back to parity (7-7). In the following actions Finland takes the lead again (9-11). Lavia’s ace leads to a new tie (14-14) and the blue spiker is once again the protagonist with the point that is worth the overtaking (17-16). Balaso highlights with some spectacular defenses. The set continues in the name of balance (20-20) and Sani takes Sanguinetti’s place at serve. On 22 all, Michieletto replaces Bottolo. It is precisely the blue spiker who signs the point of 23 all. Another change in the Italian home team with Sbertoli serving in place of Mati and the point ends with Finland’s winning attack (24-23). Prompt response from Sanguinetti with the (24-24) which then gives the Azzurri the lead (25-24). With the advantages, at the end of a close fight, Finland finished 28-26. Italy 1, Finland 1.
Third set started with Finland immediately aggressive and ahead in the score (1-3, 2-5). Italy down by four points and Galassi in instead of Mati in the center who immediately comes with a point (3-6). The team coached by Kunnari continues to put down important balls (3-9) and Italy asks for a time-out. Upon returning to the field Luca Porro replaces Daniale Lavia. Italy finds the shock and reduces the deficit (6-10). At this point of the set, Michieletto returns to the court in place of Bottolo and the point is his, making it 8-11. As the action progresses, Finland continues to remain ahead in the score (11-16, 12-17, 13-19). At this point of the set Bottolo takes the place of Michieletto and Rychlicki replaces Romanò in the opposite role. The inertia of the set does not change and the Finnish Tyynismaa lands the ball to close the set (25-16).
In the fourth set Italy leads the score (5-2, 6-3) and a block from Sanguinetti leads to +2 (7-5). At the end of a spectacular action Lavia closes the point at 8-6, followed by Sanguinetti’s ace +3 (9-6). Romanò well primed by Giannelli signs the (10-7). Jokela effective in attack brings his team to -1 (10-11) and then Haapaniemi’s ace gives the equalizer (11-11). At this point Italy tries to keep their opponents behind and Bottolo scores the score (15-13). At this point, Italy continues to maintain a two-point gap (18-16, 19-17, 20-18). At this point Sani takes the joke instead of Galassi. In the final, Giannelli’s ace gives the +3 (22-19) and then Sanguinetti’s block (24-19). Bottolo then closes the set (25-20).
In the tie-break Italy started well (4-2) and also won 12-10, but in the final Finland won 15-13.
SCORESHEET ITALY-FINLAND 2-3 (25-21, 26-28, 25-11, 25-20, 13-15)
ITALY: Giannelli 3, Bottolo 13, Sanguinetti 14, Romanò 20, Lavia 9, Mati 3, Balaso (L). Michieletto 3, Sbertoli, Sani, Rychlicki, Galassi 4, Porro 1. Ne: Laurenzano. All. De Giorgi.
FINLAND: Haapaniemi 10, Ivanov 1, Marttila L. 22, Savonsalmi 1, Jokela 28, Marttila N. 6, Koykka (L). Tyynismaa 6, Suihkonen, Valimaa, Lindqvist. Ne: Ronkainen, Zhbankov, Breilin. All. Kunnari.
Set Duration: 29′, 34′, 25′, 28′, 19′
Italy: 6 y, 24 ls, 10 mv, 35 et
Finland: 6 a, 25 s, 9 mv, 34 et
Spectators: 8260
Ferdinando De Giorgi: “It’s a difficult evening, we faced a very tough opponent. They played with great quality with a very effective serve. Clearly we are more than sorry. Behind everything we did there was a great job and our desire was to go to Milan. However, we must also accept and recognize Finland’s level. We had our opportunities and we were not good at exploiting them.”
Giovanni Sanguinetti: “We were put in difficulty especially in the third set. There was a drop in our level and with the serve they put us under a lot of pressure. We were good in the fourth set to take back the reins of the match even for a good part of the tie-break. We were controlling the fifth set and then it slipped away from us, but we must give the right compliments to our opponents who were good and played high-level volleyball. Certainly the biggest regret is having lost the third and fifth sets where we could have closed the game. The point-to-point matches must be taken like this and every ball in the final has an enormous weight.”
Yuri Romanò: “Obviously it’s very disappointing and it wasn’t the end we wanted. Our desire was to get to Milan and it’s very disappointing. We weren’t able to express our best game like in previous matches. Difficult matches happen and you have to be ready to do well on those occasions.
We had the opportunities to win the match, but I must say that they were also really good at taking their chances to win and we had a good reaction in the quarter. At the end we were point for point, a balanced game and you can win or lose. High level volleyball is like this today.”