Despite the speculations he would play for Italy this year, Osmany Juantorena is NOT on the list!
Coach Berruto has revealed his preliminary roster which still includes some of the players who competed and won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics such as Cristian Savani, Ivan Zaytsev and Dragan Travica.
Setters: Dragan Travica, Michele Baranowicz, Marco Falaschi, Davide Saitta
Midde Blockers: Emanuele Birarelli , Enrico Cester, Giorgio De Togni, Thomas Beretta, Matteo Piano, Daniele Mazzone
Outside Hitters: Cristian Savani, Ivan Zaytsev, Simone Parodi, Jiri Kovar, Gabriele Maruotti, Filippo Lanza, Michele Fedrizzi, Ludovico Dolfo
Opposite Hitters: Luca Vettori, Giulio Sabbi
Liberos: Andrea Giovi, Salvatore Rossini
It looks like Luigi Mastrangelo & Alessandro Fei have retired from the National Team or maybe they’re just resting this season? As for the left handed opposite hitter Michal Lasko, he asked Coach Berruto to take a season off because he’s getting married this year.
Lots of young players on the roster & we hope they all can shine and develop in time for the 2016 Olympics.
Italy will compete in 2 major competitions this year, ie the 2013 World League and 2013 CEV European Championship. If they win the European Championship, then they will fly to Japan for the 2013 World Grand Champions Cup sometime in November.
Coach Berruto’s 2016 Project
Per FIVB in an article released last November 29th, 2012:
Looking forward to Rio 2016, Mauro Berruto, coach of Italy’s men’s national volleyball team, held a two day intensive training session at the Centro Sportivo dell’Acqua Acetosa in Rome, where he worked with 27 players including Pedron, Pinelli, Sperandio, Mazzone, Marchisio, Valsecchi, Fedrizzi, Caci and Pesaresi.
“I think it’s fair to thank the Federation and the various clubs that allowed the project” said Berruto.
“I am very happy that the programme has started as I believe in a lot. I will have the ability to monitor and record the growth of several players. The athletes here are committed to engaging to this four-year project and the hope is to have the largest possible number of young players on the eve of the next Games.”
As Berruto explained, “This is just the first of three stages, the other two will be between January and March during which I will have the opportunity to work and learn more.”
The coach was satisfied with the work saying, “These two days helped to clear my head though, logically, 48 hours are not enough for a definitive assessment. In this sense, it is important that the players show me and convey their desire to learn and improve. They will have to earn their place in the upcoming events.”
(images: FIVB)
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