What the Hell Happened to Italy?!
Some may express disappointment with the outcome for the American men in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. I’m not among them; I’d say the finish they got—sixth—was about as good as it gets for this group, though I do wish they’d shown up for Greece.
But, if you’re a fan of the Settebello, as the Italian national team is known, you might be pulling your hair out given how Alessandro Campagna’s side performed at the Tokyo Games. The defending FINA World Champions (by virtue of a title won in Korea in 2019), Italy entered Olympic play as a likely medalist and a legitimate threat to Serbian supremacy. Instead they muddled through group play, beating Japan, South Africa and the U.S. while tying Greece and Hungary.
In a fateful quarterfinal appearance against the dangerous Serbs—the defending gold medalists were a surprising fourth in Group B—a 13-10 loss sent Campagna’s team into a tailspin. They lost 7-6 to the Americans in a qualifying match and only eked out the seventh spot, topping Montenegro in penalties.
One such soul who is extremely vexed about his national team’s Tokyo result is Francesco Grillone. Through his WaterPoloItaly.com site, Grillone tracks the comings and goings of the various Italian league teams, including his beloved Pro Recco and the Settebello.
Following are Grillone’s thoughts about the Italians, who their own coach stated should grab a medal in Tokyo—as they had in the previous two Games. He seeks to unravel how a contender for gold ended up with its worst finish at the Olympics since a ninth-place result in 2008.
Francesco Grillone of WaterPoloItaly.com
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- On expectations unmet at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics:
Before the Olympics there was a lot of expectation for the Italian water polo team: they were aiming for the top step of the podium. Then, when the Olympic tournament started, after an uneven match with South Africa, it became clear that something was wrong. With Greece and Hungary, Italy drew in the final moments, certainly with a great comeback, but showing that something was not working in the blue pool. The epilogue with Serbia: a clear defeat, the daughter of a non-existent game, the result of too many mistakes.
What happened then with the “Settebello”? Difficult to say and understand now, perhaps over time the problems will emerge. But the strengths of this World Champion team have failed. We did not see the top player Francesco Di Fulvio, today the best Italian player. The defense worked on alternating current, often leaving the goalkeeper at the mercy of the opponents' shots. And then the attack: they did not scratch, they did not produce, they never managed to worry the opponent.
[Di Fulvio, Johnson Are Swimming World’s Top Men’s and Women’s Water Polo Players for 2019]
- On the Italian team lacking cohesiveness:
A team of any sport if it does not form a "group" does not go anywhere. A striking example: Italy won the European football championship (UEFA) [last month] because there was a large group on the pitch. All to help everyone. No one has been left alone.
The strength of a team is always helping each other together. Something went wrong in the Settebello. Today it is difficult to say why, but sooner or later the problems will arise.
A general malaise dictated by wrong preparation, even tactically, or did problems emerge within the group?
- On the state of the national team and its head coach, Sandro Campagna:
Today we will have to start from scratch, mentally re-found a team that has proven to be in disarray. But it won't be easy. I have known Sandro for 30 years. I respected him as a player and I respect him as a coach. Today I think he has distorted his task: instead of trying to encourage clubs to take care of the youth sectors more, to create water polo schools, he is more interested in a political-managerial aspect that distances him from a sporting reality.
I don't think he should resign, but he must recover his role as a coach, he must act not as a politician but as a sportsman. This is the only way to find the right way to raise the head of the national team.
- Naming a possible culprit: the Italian Swimming Federation:
Because the evil that afflicts Italian water polo starts from afar, from the clubs that do not push that much on the youth sectors: better to buy a half sock than to spend years and money to build a player at home. And on this point one can only point the finger at the Italian Swimming Federation which does not oblige the teams to field one or two under 20s in formation.
Italian water polo is in disarray: the COVID has brought an already fragile system to its knees; today the results were collected. But if Paolo Barelli [president of Italian Swimming Federation] is so happy, why should we worry?
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Comments From Randazzo:
The success and experience the Italians brought to this Olympics was equal to any squad in the draw for Tokyo, except for Serbia, the defending gold medalists. In my predictions, I had Italy winning; this was based upon a strong performance in the 2019 FINA World Championships—where they took gold over Spain. The Italians finished sixth at the 2020 European Championships; I would say there were signs in last month’s FINA World League Super League semifinals against the Americans. A brutality penalty against Matteo Aicardi in the third quarter of that match was key to an American win—and indicative (perhaps) of a larger problem.
[U.S. Men Stun Italy 10-8 in Super Final Semifinal; Will Face Montenegro for Gold in Georgia]
Italy had the lowest percentage of center forward exclusions drawn of any team in the tournament. Not sure how significant this is BUT they simply couldn’t top the teams they needed to (Greece / Hungary) and got stuck with a really dangerous Serbian squad in the all-important quarterfinals.
In the end, they had too many players past their prime at a time when youth needed to be served. The Italians’ failure is in stark contrast to Serbia’s success; Head Coach Dejan Savic had the oldest line-up in Tokyo but he coaxed them to another gold medal. Not so for Campagna.
The Americans know EXACTLY how this feels, being in the same position in 2012 after a successful 2008. But, a silver lining for the U.S.; they had the youngest average age in Tokyo—and this includes the 38-year-old Jesse Smith.