Olympic champions from Italy demonstrated class and control against Germany, closing the Round of 16 with a clean 3:0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-11) in Bangkok. Thus, Julio Velasco's "Squadra" advances to the quarter-finals, where they will await the winner of the match between Poland and Belgium.
Leading Figure – Paola Egonu
The big star Paola Egonu was once again above all – she finished with 21 points and showed her dominance both in attack and with a stable presence in defense. Alongside her, young Nervini contributed strongly with 11 points, reinforcing the Italian offense.
Match Statistics
| Category | Italy | Germany |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | 47 | 30 |
| Block | 9 | 5 |
| Serve | 2 | 0 |
| Opponent Errors | 16 | 16 |
| Total Points | 74 | 51 |
Italy dominated in attack and block, while Germany failed to counter with enough variety. The 23-point difference in the final score is indicative of the gap between the two teams.
Defensive Play and Distribution
| Category | Italy | Germany |
|---|---|---|
| Digs | 72 | 63 |
| Reception | 45 | 70 |
| Set | 102 | 105 |
The Germans had more positive receptions and sets, but they didn't convert them into an effective attack. The Italians, on the other hand, were more cohesive in defense and neutralized the main German attackers.
Top Scorers
| Italy | Points | Germany | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paola Egonu (No. 18) | 21 | Alsmeier (No. 9) | 10 |
| Nervini (No. 16) | 11 | Ortmann (No. 12) | 7 |
Egonu was unrivalled on the court, while Nervini, who replaced the starting receiver Alice Degradi, injured during the VNL, emerged as a reliable second factor. Germany never found a leader to guide the team through difficult moments.
Italy looks confident and disciplined, and Velasco's system works flawlessly. If Paola Egonu and company maintain this form, "the squad" enters as a favorite for the semifinals as well.
