Aware of how much stronger the field has become since the last edition, Mattia Bottolo admitted that Italy’s return to the semifinals of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship feels more like a dream than a set objective.
“It was not a goal for us, but it was a dream to be back in the Top 4 at the World Championship,” Bottolo said after playing a key role in Italy’s 25-13, 25-18, 25-18 sweep of Belgium in the quarterfinals.
Bottolo acknowledged that repeating their deep run from 2022 was far from guaranteed, noting the increasingly competitive level of teams worldwide.
Since reclaiming the World Championship crown three years ago, Italy has struggled to replicate that same dominance in other major tournaments — placing fourth and fifth in the 2023 and 2024 Volleyball Nations League, respectively, and settling for fourth at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
For Bottolo, Italy’s latest semifinal berth is proof that they remain a global powerhouse while continuing to grow as a team.
“It is difficult to repeat the same story because the level of the teams in the world is becoming more balanced,” said Bottolo, who tallied 10 points in the win over Belgium.
“For us, reaching this point shows that we are still improving and can prove how strong Italy is in the world,” he added, as the Italians brace for a high-stakes clash against either Poland or Turkey.
The one-time European Championship winner revealed that the team had a heartfelt conversation before the start of the 32-nation tournament. They focused on resetting their mindset and approaching the campaign with the same hunger they had in 2022.
Bottolo said that mindset has kept them grounded throughout the tournament, helping Italy stay focused against elite contenders while avoiding complacency against lower-ranked teams.
“At the beginning of the tournament, we had a conversation all together and said that we had to start again, thinking the way we did in 2022 before the World Championship,” he explained.
“You have to see yourself as an outsider, not as a powerhouse, because that mindset makes you bring the right focus to every match. That is the key — to beat strong teams and also to avoid losing against those who might underestimate you,” he added.
