Just a day after the dramatic five-set battle with Bulgaria, in which the Italians showed character and pulled the match back from 0:2 to a tie-break, this time the world champions were unrecognizable. In Ljubljana, Ferdinando De Giorgi's players failed to offer almost any resistance to an inspired Ukraine and lost decisively with0:3 (23:25, 19:25, 16:25)in a Nations League match.
There was no trace of the combative, aggressive, and emotional Italy that just 24 hours earlier had to fight for every last point against Bulgaria. Against the Ukrainians, the "Azzurri" looked tired, out of ideas, and lacking their usual energy, and their opponent took full advantage.
The victory elevated Ukraine to second place in the provisional standings with 13 points, just one point behind leaders Japan. Additionally, the Ukrainians earned 16.89 points for the world ranking list and climbed to No. 14 in the world.
Ukraine imposed its will from the start
The first set was even until the middle. Ukraine made the first break for 9:7, but Italy managed to restore equality at 13:13 with Paolo Porro's serve. A little later, a block gave the "Azzurri" a lead at 17:16, but that was the last moment the Italians looked capable of controlling what was happening on the court. In the decisive rallies, Oleh Plotnytskyi led his team to success and executed the winning attack for 25:23.
The second set began with strong pressure from Ukraine, who pulled ahead 5:1. The Italians narrowed the gap to 11:13, but Yanchuk restored the four-point lead at 16:12. In the end, Cortesia saved two set points, but Plotnytskyi ended the dispute with an attack for 25:19.
The third set became a demonstration of Ukrainian superiority. Italy never found its rhythm, neither in attack nor in blocking, and the Ukrainians comfortably closed out the match after a convincing 25:16.
Statistics show Ukraine's complete superiority
| Indicator | Ukraine | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | 45 | 36 |
| Block | 8 | 3 |
| Aces | 5 | 1 |
| Points from opponent errors | 17 | 18 |
| Total points | 75 | 58 |
Ukraine superior to Italy in every key element of the game. Most striking is the difference in blocks (8:3) and serves (5:1), which allowed the Ukrainians to constantly dictate the pace. The nine-point lead in attack (45:36) also shows that the Italian defense never found a solution against the opponent's attackers.
The Ukrainians were better in defensive elements as well
| Indicator | Ukraine | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Digs | 52 | 42 |
| Receptions | 61 | 49 |
| Organized attacks | 87 | 75 |
In defensive components, the Ukrainians also had a noticeable advantage. More digs and more stable receptions allowed them to organize significantly more quality attacks. It was this consistency that Italy lacked throughout the match.
Top scorers
| Ukraine | Points | Italy | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oleh Plotnytskyi | 15 | Mattia Bottolo | 11 |
| Vasyl Tupchii | 15 | Kamil Rychlicki | 6 |
Plotnytskyi and Tupchii scored 15 points each and led Ukraine to a decisive victory. For Italy, only Mattia Bottolo reached double digits with 11 points, which clearly indicates a lack of sufficient offensive effectiveness.
The contrast with the match against Bulgaria was enormous. If against the Bulgarian team Italy showed will, character, and resilience, against Ukraine the world champions looked without energy and without their usual face. The Ukrainians took full advantage of this and recorded one of their most impressive victories in this year's edition of the Nations League, after having defeated another giant, Brazil, a day earlier.
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