The Italian Volleyball Federation (FIPAV) officially published the documentary film on its YouTube channel„Le mani sul mondo – Lo storico back2back iridato“, dedicated to the men's national team's second consecutive world title.
The 41-minute production takes viewers back to Ferdinando De Giorgi's team's championship run in the Philippines, which ended with a victory in the final with3:1 against Bulgariaand a successful defense of the world crown.
The Road to Gold in Manila
The film traces the entire participation of the "Squadra Azzurra" in the championship in Pasay City – from the fluctuations in the group stage to complete dominance in the eliminations. The Italians suffered a defeat against Belgium in the preliminary stage, but after that, they allowed no further surprises and reached the final against Bulgaria.
In the decisive match, Italy imposed control in key moments and achieved a 3:1 victory, which brought them their fifth world title in the federation's history and a second consecutive triumph after the gold from 2022.
Emotion, Locker Room, and Leadership
The documentary film includes:
never-before-broadcast footage from the locker room
interviews with Giannelli and his teammates
emotional moments during the anthem
internal conversations within De Giorgi's staff
The emphasis is placed on the team spirit, cohesion, and continuity within the squad, which since 2021 has built a series of accolades – two world titles, a European crown, and a silver medal from the Volleyball Nations League.
Bulgaria in Historical Context and Simone Anzani
Nearly a quarter of the documentary's runtime is dedicated precisely to the final against Bulgaria and the emotions after the last point, with a special emphasis on the figure of Simone Anzani. The Italian middle blocker, one of the team's leaders, missed the Olympic Games in Paris due to serious heart health issues and a long recovery period, which kept him out of the biggest sporting stage in 2024.
However, his return to the World Championship in the Philippines carries a strong symbolic charge – Anzani earned his second consecutive gold medal from a World Championship after the 2022 title and solidified his role as a pillar at the net. Cameras closely followed his reactions after the 3:1 victory against Bulgaria, his conversations with teammates, and emotional moments in the locker room, culminating in his address to the team: "This is a medal, yes. But my greatest medal is you. Besides being my teammates, you became my friends… If I have left you even 1% of what I wanted to convey, then I have achieved my goal." Words that transform gold not just into a sporting success, but into a human triumph.
For the Bulgarian public, Simone Anzani will be remembered not only as a two-time world champion but also for his humane gesture after the final. Immediately after the last point in the 3:1 victory for Italy, he went to a tearful Damyan Kolev, hugged him, and comforted him for a long time, telling him that his journey was just beginning. A scene that transcended the score and showed respect between generations – from the established champion to the young talent who is yet to write his history on the big stage.
With the publication of "Le mani sul mondo," FIPAV practically closes another golden page in the modern history of Italian volleyball – a history in which the final against Bulgaria holds its place as the decisive match for the world crown.
