Alessandro Michieletto stepped onto the court again in an official match for Italy after his prolonged absence. The outside hitter appeared at the end of the opening match of EuroVolley 2026 against Sweden, which the "Azzurri" won 3:0 (25:22, 25:21, 25:17).
Ferdinando De Giorgi brought Michieletto in with a 2:0 set lead and 20:16 in the third set of the unusual outdoor match at "Piazza del Plebiscito" in Naples. This was his first appearance in a game since January.
His return is even more important for Italy, as Michieletto went through a prolonged recovery period. Although he was not used in the matches during the summer, he gradually returned to the training process and was included among De Giorgi's 14 chosen players for the European Championship. His presence in the final squad was officially confirmed by the Italian Volleyball Federation on September 8.
After the victory over Sweden, De Giorgi paid special attention to the return of one of his key volleyball players.
"Yes, I told him: 'Welcome back.' At least he got the feeling of seeing what the court looks like again. But most of all, I want to emphasize what he did during these two and a half months – he was an example," stated the Italy coach.
De Giorgi highlighted not only Michieletto's physical efforts but also his behavior throughout the recovery period.
"I often talk about the values of this team – readiness, respect, and a sense of belonging. He embodied all of that. He worked together with the staff, and I believe that was seen and appreciated. This is a huge credit to him, and he was an example for everyone, completely in the spirit of this team's philosophy," De Giorgi added.
The appearance against Sweden was just the first small step. Michieletto entered a practically decided match and stayed on the court only for the final rallies, which shows that the Italian staff is currently approaching his return to competitive rhythm cautiously.
For Italy, however, the mere fact that Michieletto is back on the court is important at the start of EuroVolley. The "Azzurri" continue their participation in Group A in Modena, and their next match is against Greece on September 12.

photo:screenshot