The Italian squad will face either Poland or Turkiye on Saturday for a coveted spot in the final.
Italy (ITA) vs. Belgium (BEL) men – Quarter-finals
Defending champions Italy have clinched the first semifinal spot at the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship, held in the Philippines. In a powerful display during the opening quarterfinal match in Pasay City on Wednesday, they thoroughly outplayed Belgium, securing a convincing straight-sets victory.
Driven by their previous loss to Belgium during the pool stage, the Italians entered the quarterfinal with an aggressive and determined mindset. They showed no mercy, delivering a one-sided performance in the first set, which concluded decisively with a crucial kill block from middle blocker Roberto Russo. While Belgium saw a slight improvement in the second set, Italy maintained firm control. Russo once again proved instrumental, securing the set with another effective block. In the third set, Belgium managed to keep pace until the 10-10 mark before Italy pulled away, ultimately sealing a 3-0 shutout (25-13, 25-18, 25-18). Roberto Russo capped off the match with a blistering ace from the service line.
Belgium’s high number of unforced errors, 26 compared to Italy`s mere 10, significantly impacted the game. Beyond that, the world champions demonstrated superiority in serving, delivering 8 aces to Belgium’s 1, and in blocking, with 6 successful blocks against Belgium’s 1. Roberto Russo was undoubtedly the star of the match, leading Italy with a team-high 12 points, which included four kill blocks, two aces, and an impressive 75% attack efficiency. Outside hitter Alessandro Michieletto contributed 11 points, including four aces, while his teammate Mattia Bottolo added 10 points, all from successful attacks.
“I am incredibly happy because this tournament is exceptionally challenging, and we managed to defeat Belgium, a strong and formidable team to whom we had previously lost in the group stage. Today was a different game, and I am truly pleased with this victory,” Russo stated. “Our goal is to go far in this tournament, and I hope we can replicate this performance against Poland or Turkiye in the semifinal.”
Despite Italy`s dominance, Belgium did manage to outscore them slightly in attack points (37-35). The 22-year-old opposite hitter Ferre Reggers was Belgium’s top scorer with 13 points, all from offense. Outside hitter and captain Sam Deroo also added 11 points, including one ace.
“It’s disheartening to admit, but we didn’t start strong, and if you allow a team like Italy to play without pressure, it becomes almost impossible to recover. You can strategize all you want before the game, but if they are five or six points ahead in every set, they have countless options. Giannelli`s reception was flawless, allowing him to execute any play he desired. We tried, we didn`t give up, and that’s the only positive I can highlight for our team. However, our performance was simply not sufficient to challenge them today,” Deroo remarked. “We had a good run in the tournament. Of course, it’s disappointing to end it this way. We had hoped for a more competitive battle, so leaving the World Championship like this leaves a bitter taste. Nonetheless, in a few weeks, we will undoubtedly be proud of our journey. This experience definitely provides momentum for the future.”
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick