Italian national and key outside hitter of "Squadra Azzurra" Daniele Lavia will not be able to participate in the World Volleyball Championship, which will be held in September in the Philippines. The situation is a real blow for coach Ferdinando De Giorgi, as Lavia was a key figure in Italy's recent major successes - the European Championship title in 2021 and the world crown in 2022.

Severe injury during preparation

According to his club Itas Trentino, the incident occurred during a national team camp in Verona. The medical bulletin reveals a serious injury:

"Daniele Lavia sustained a comminuted fracture with tendon damage to the fourth and fifth fingers of his right hand. The player underwent surgery at the hospitalBorgo Trentoin Verona by Dr. Massimo Corrain. The intervention involved bone fixation and stabilization, as well as tendon suturing."

Doctors emphasize that the recovery process will be extremely long, and the exact duration cannot yet be predicted.

Huge loss for the national team

Lavia is considered one of the leaders of the Italian generation that has revived the glory of the "Squadra Azzurra" in recent years. His absence will not only weaken the team's attacking power but will also put pressure on the other outside hitters, who will have to compensate for his absence.

Italy enters the championship as one of the favorites for gold, but Lavia's injury will undoubtedly raise new questions for the champions.

photo: Nikolay Varadinov