What to expect from the men’s national volleyball team at the 2026 European Championships

From the hands of Alessia Orro to those of Simone Giannelli. The baton – or rather, the ball – passes from the playmaker to the captain of the Azzurri, who officially kick off their campaign in the 2026 European Championships tomorrow. The tournament, hosted by Italy, Bulgaria, Finland and Romania and running until 26 September, will be opened today with the match between Bulgaria and North Macedonia. Weather permitting (otherwise the match will be played at the Palasele in Eboli, almost 86 kilometres away), Italy, under head coach Ferdinando De Giorgi, will make their debut tomorrow at 9.00 pm against Sweden, in Piazza del Plebiscito in Naples, in the presence of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella.

The Azzurri, fresh from finishing fourth in the VNL, are heading into the tournament – which offers not only the trophy but also a direct place at the 2028 Los Angeles Games – as runners-up, though with a number of uncertainties.

Yesterday, the list of 14 players was officially announced, and Alessandro Michieletto’s absence did not go unnoticed. How is the spiker really doing? This is the question to which, at the moment, no one has an answer, but his physical condition is certainly not ideal. The Itas Trentino player has been sidelined since 21 January due to a stress fracture in the right pedicle of his fourth lumbar vertebra, and there have also been unconfirmed rumours of a foot problem. Unsurprisingly, unlike the squad for the 2025 World Championship, there are five outside hitters (alongside him: Daniele Lavia, Mattia Bottolo, Luca Porro and Francesco Sani) and three middle blockers instead of four. This decision has sparked debate and could have tactical consequences, leading to greater difficulties in managing rotations and, above all, in blocking. There are certainly doubts regarding the centre position: where has Roberto Russo gone? The Palermo-born player is reportedly suffering from back problems, though no official statement has been made. This means the inclusion of Gianluca Galassi, a national team veteran who has just overcome a challenging year due to testicular cancer; Giovanni Sanguinetti, whose form is not always consistent; and Pardo Mati, one of the youngest faces in the squad. It is precisely in this position that the absence of Simone Anzani might be felt, as he bid farewell to the national team after the 2025 World Championship.

No surprises in the set-up with the usual pair of Giannelli and Sbertoli (the latter mainly used in the double substitution), whilst Yuri Romanò and Kamil Rychlicki are the outside hitters. Finally, in the libero role are Fabio Balaso, a reliable presence in the back row, and Gabriele Laurenzano. As has been the case in the past, there is perhaps little confidence in the Italian side, though they have always shown their fighting spirit when it matters most.

Italy, drawn in Group A, faces a manageable yet tricky group (notably the Czech Republic and Slovenia). Then, hopefully, the real action will come in Turin for the round of 16 and quarter-finals, and finally in Milan for the semi-finals and final. They will need to be wary of Poland, who won gold in 2023, Andrea Giani’s France and Gianlorenzo Blengini’s Bulgaria – a team capable of reaching the World Championship final.