Sapporo (Japan)

Eleven Italian players out of twelve have a special history with Marco Bonitta. All of them were coached by the Italian coach that currently is leading Poland. The eleven stories (Aguero excluded) are different: someone played with Bonitta in Italian League clubs and others, since 2001, in the Italian national team.
One years after, in 2002, the Italian squad won the World Championship gold medals in Berlin. That victory, thoroughly worthy, was totally unexpected and surprising. I don’t say miraculous because in Volleyball, as well as in all sports, nothing belongs to supernatural.
The players and their coach were welcomed in Italy as stars. They were invited in the most popular TV talk shows and their popularity grew up rapidly.
Since then, they were able to stay at top level winning two silver medals in European Championship (2003 and 2005) a fifth place at Athens Olympic Games and well performing at Grand Prix.

Is this the perfect tale?

No, it isn’t, because forty days before the 2006 World Championship all the players, close more than ever, forced their coach to resign. The Italian Volleyball Federation tried to find an agreement but the group was firm and resolute. The relationship between the team and his coach had irremediably worn out.
The coach that replaced Bonitta was Massimo Barbolini and it is actually hard to imagine two more dissimilar characters.
One is very calm and quite, the other nervy and spirited. One prefers by far to cool down the agonistic will, the other relies mostly on competitive spirit. Both are excellent coaches but they follow two opposite ways and the Italian players had to stay in the middle.

Bonitta, soon after his forced Italian replacement, started to coach Poland team and faced Italy many times. When Barbolini was trying to sooth the quarrel, Bonitta otherwise, strengthened the conflict: each match was an opportunity to argue again.
Italian players felt this psychological pressure and during the last World Grand Prix they lost twice against Poland, one of which 3-0: the only three straight sets defeat Italy had ever recorded in that occasion.

Today, Friday 9th November, this quarrel ended because Italy overwhelmed Poland. Barbolini, during the days before the match, kept the team away from any dangerous provocation. He made the player to focus only on tactical matters: no personal revenges, no glances to Bonitta, no exceeding statements after the match.

Italy is approaching the last round, when they will play crucial matches with USA, Brazil and Cuba, proceeding without any skid leaded by a peaceful but firm coach.

Why Italy won: Italy had an astonishing efficiency playing on the opponent serve: they scored regularly during this phase. Moreover “azzurre” leaded by Del Core and Piccinini performed very fine digging everything.

Why Serbia won: (To say the truth I’m explaining why I enjoyed the match).
When a team celebrates cheerfully a point although is losing badly, means that their goal is not the victory. Kenyan players’ aim was playing at their best. That’s why they were running and gathering together in a multiple smiling hug at each scored point. I would have liked to enjoy more winning attacks on the African’s side, because I love recognizing the childish expression among the serious looks that distinguished professional players.

Why Japan won: as I did above for previous match, I’m reporting what impressed me and not an authentic tactic key. After the match, during the press conference, Chihuan, Peruvian captain, said: “starting from the third set we improved our game level because we told each other something that we cannot openly repeat.” It wasn’t enough to win but the Peruvian players seemed relieved.

Bye bye andrea zorzi