Italy U21 continues its winning streak at the World Championship in Jiangmen, China. In the quarterfinals, "the Azzurri" defeated Cuba 3:1 (25:18, 22:25, 25:18, 25:21) and qualified for the semifinals – a seventh consecutive victory for Vincenzo Fanizza's team.

Among the key figures, Manuel Zlatanov once again stood out – the third generation of the famous volleyball family. Grandson of the legend Dimitar Zlatanov and son of Hristo Zlatanov, he solidified his name with a strong performance against Cuba. With 16 points scored and numerous saved balls in defense, Manuel was one of the players who kept the team stable in difficult moments.

Along with Barotto (20 pts, top scorer) and Matti (18), Zlatanov formed the backbone of the Italian success. Even when Cuba managed to equalize after the second set, the Italians found support in their collective play and the determination of their main attackers. In the third and fourth sets, Fanizza's team demonstrated greater maturity, stability in reception, and an effective block – elements in which Manuel Zlatanov played a role far beyond the statistics.

Tomorrow, August 30 at 2:00 PM, Italy will face the Czech Republic in the semifinal. In the other clash, USA and Iran will compete.