[Sun, 28/9, 12:30 CET] In the grand final of the Volleyball World Championship we will, quite surprisingly, see Bulgaria taking on the defending world champions, Italy. The Bulgarian players have shown remarkable maturity despite the youth of their two key figures, the Nikolov brothers. However, with the rare exception at the middle blocker position, we have not seen significant contributions from their bench.
Italy, on the other hand, have once again confirmed their status as a volleyball powerhouse. Despite the injury to starting outside hitter Lavie before the tournament and a group-stage defeat to Belgium, they put together an extraordinary run of three straight 3–0 victories in the round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final, making them the clear favourites in this final. Especially so because in their semi-final against Poland they proved that their substitutes, such as outside hitters Sani and L. Porro, are capable at any moment—regardless of the scoreline—of turning the match in their favour.
We have our new–old world champions: Italy. The only team able to take a set off them in the knockout stage of the World Championship were Bulgaria – the tournament’s first real surprise package. After a fairly balanced opening set, Italy’s opposite Romanò seized control late in the second, scoring four points in a row to settle it. In the third, Bulgaria took more risks and served more aggressively, and it paid off. Atanasov in particular shone from the service line, helping his side to a four-point cushion midway through the set. That brought the score to 1–2 in sets – Italy still firmly in front, but it felt as though Bulgaria had worked their way back into the contest, just as they had managed several times earlier in the tournament. But that was a false dawn. In the fourth set Italy raced ahead from the very start, with Bulgarian coach Blengini – himself an Italian – burning both timeouts at just 3–8. At 10–18 Bottolo stepped up to the service line and produced a display few, if any, have ever matched at World Championships, major tournaments or even the Olympic Games. He served relentlessly, without mercy, right through to match point, sealing Italy’s consecutive world title. Bottolo certainly justified his place in the starting six, but in truth this was a collective display of dominance from Italy. At this World Championship they reigned supreme – surrendering only a single set, to Bulgaria..
Bulgaria : Italy
  1 - 3FIVB WCh: men
N/A Bulgaria : Italy |
Set
4
Italy are once again world champions, after producing a serving masterclass in the final.
Bulgaria call their first timeout at 3–5, with Asparuhov coming on for Antov at 3–6.
The Italian volleyball machine keeps rolling, starting from the service line. At 3–8 Bulgaria have already used their second timeout. Italy are storming towards another world championship title.
At 3–9, the second middle blocker Petkov replaces the first Petkov. A change of opposite follows, with Antov only coming back in at 4–9.
Midway through the set Italy are five points ahead, 8–13. Antov, the new opposite, strikes with a powerful and spectacular hit, but the Italians keep their side-out game steady and hold the lead.
Bottolo then blocks Antov, and a video challenge for a net touch proves unsuccessful. 9–16, with Romanò serving. A. Nikolov launches a rocket of a spike wide of the court, 9–17.
An ace from Bottolo for 19–10 – incredible. And another straight after, 10–20. Italy are on the verge of defending their world championship crown. Bulgaria simply cannot win a side-out. Bottolo steps up for a fourth serve… and it’s another ace. 10–22. Unbelievable. What are the Italians being fed to serve like this? A block makes it 10–23. No mercy: 10–24, yet another ace from Bottolo. And finally, Italy tidy up a deflection at the net and finish with a quick attack for 25–10.
Italy are once again world champions.
Set
3
Now we’ll see what the Bulgarian players can do under real pressure. They managed to win a marathon opening set against Germany in the group stage, then went on to take the next two for their first victory at the World Championship. Against Slovenia, they led by two sets, saw Slovenia pull level, and were trailing in the decider before rallying late and serving their way to victory.
Bulgaria earn their first break point on the serve of setter S. Nikolov, after an excellent defensive play, to lead 10–9. A stronger serve follows, the block–defence does its job, and Atanasov finishes once more for a second break point, 11–9. Italy call their first timeout.
On Atanasov’s serve, Bulgaria claim two more break points – the second with a block on Bottolo – to move 14–10 ahead, and Italy are forced into a second timeout. After the break, Atanasov hammers in an ace. Bottolo is taken off, with L. Porro coming in to receive.
Petkov adds another break point for Bulgaria with a direct block. But Italy refuse to give in, digging out A. Nikolov’s tip and winning a break point of their own for 18–14. From the bench comes the so-called joker server, but he sends it straight into the net. 19–14.
A. Nikolov fires an ace on the other side to make it 20–14. At 21–15 Italy bring on their second setter, Sbertoli. In this third set, Italy’s serving has been nowhere near the level of the second. Quite the opposite for Bulgaria: Atanasov delivers an ace on Michieletto’s reception for 24–17. The first set point is taken, and Bulgaria win it 25–17. The match now stands at 1–2 in sets.
Set
2
The Italian national team, a real volleyball machine, opened up a three-point lead early in the second set, 5–8, with Bulgaria already forced to use their first timeout.
With three points in a row – all confidently finished by A. Nikolov – Bulgaria closed the gap to 10–11. That brought Italy’s first timeout. Straight after, Asparuhov delivered a strong serve, followed by another break point after Romanò’s error, levelling the score at 11–11.
On setter Giannelli’s serve – starting with a cleverly dipping ball – Italy pulled two more break points clear, 11–14, and Bulgaria’s coach, the Italian Blengini, had to call his second timeout.
After the break, Giannelli sent down a third consecutive serve, Bulgaria failed to build an attack, and Italy stretched the lead with another break point, 11–15. A. Nikolov hit back with a break point of his own on serve, but then sent the next one just wide down the line. An early mistake by Anzani, who put a free ball out, narrowed the gap to one. Blengini challenged for a back-row violation that would have levelled the score, but the video review went against him. 16–18.
Then the drama: Romanò fired in a crazy ace, the ball rolling off the net and dropping in. 16–19. Bulgaria’s reception collapsed again, 16–20. And again, 16–21 – all on Romanò’s serve. 16–22. Astonishingly, 16–23, still Romanò at the line. A side-out brought 17–24, Italy’s first set point. And they converted immediately, Bottolo serving an ace – once more off the net. Incredible.
17–25. Italy take the second set even more convincingly – it was a serving show.
Set
1
The start of the match saw Italy take the lead with a break point. Bulgaria almost went two points ahead, but Italy were right to call for a video challenge on a supposed floor touch that wasn’t there. The rally at 9–10 was replayed, and Italy levelled at 10–10.
In the first half of the opening set, both teams were still feeling each other out, tied again at 12–12. With setter S. Nikolov serving, Bulgaria won a break point after a strong defensive play and moved two points clear at 14–12, prompting Italy’s first timeout. Botollo responded with an ace to level at 14. On his serve Italy went on a run, adding another break point, and yet another, before Botollo himself finished off a counter-attack from the back row to make it 14–16. This time Bulgaria called their first timeout.
The decisive difference came on Botollo’s serve, where Italy created the key gap. Bulgaria had opportunities to close it, but failed to take them. Italy held firm and closed the set 21–25, taking the first set.
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