Italy men's national water polo team

Italy
Nickname(s) Settebello
Association Federazione Italiana Nuoto
Confederation LEN (Europe)
Head coach Alessandro Campagna
Asst coach Alessandro Amato
Amedeo Pomilio
Captain Stefano Tempesti
FINA code ITA
Olympic Games
Appearances 20 (first in 1920)
Best result 1st (1948, 1960, 1992)
World Championships
Appearances 16 (first in 1973)
Best result 1st (1978, 1994, 2011)
World League
Appearances 7 (first in 2002)
Best result 2nd 2003
World Cup
Appearances 11 (first in 1979)
Best result 1st (1993)
European Championship
Appearances 30 (first in 1927)
Best result 1st (1947, 1993, 1995)
Appearances (first in 1955)
Best result 1st (1955, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1991, 1993)

The Italian national water polo team represents Italy in men's international water polo competitions and is controlled by Federnuoto (the Italian Aquatics Federation). The national men's team has the nickname of "Settebello".

The Italian men's water polo team has won 6 Olympic medals, 5 World Championships, 5 World Cup, 10 European Championships medals, and one World League medal, making them one of the most successful men's water polo teams in the world. They have won a combined six championships in those four competitions, with the World League being the only competition which Italy has yet to win.

History

The Italian water polo team, of the early 1950s

Water Polo became popular in Italy soon after 1899, when an exhibition match was played at the Bath of Diana in Milan, with the match being described in the press as: "like football but more tiring and difficult, requiring energy and strength beyond the ordinary".[1]

Although a domestic league was soon established, the Italian national water polo team did not first compete at the Olympic Games until the 1920 Olympics, in Antwerp, Belgium, where they were forced to forfeit their first round match, before losing 5–1 to Greece and being eliminated.

The national team first fulfilled their potential at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England, when they went undefeated for the whole tournament to claim their first gold medal in the discipline.

The Italian team reclaimed the title of Olympic champions in front of a home crowd at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Italy. Italy won their third Olympic title at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, beating the hosts and tournament favourites Spain 9–8 after extra time in a thrilling final. Only Hungary (9), and Great Britain (4) have more Olympic titles.

The Italian national side have also won three World Championships, in 1978, 1994 and 2011,and the World Cup once in 1993. Italy also claimed their first European Championship in 1995.

Palmarès

Competition 1st 2nd 3rd Total
Olympic Games 3 2 2 7
World Championship 3 2 1 6
European Championship 3 2 6 11
Universiade 3 3 4 10
Mediterranean Games 6 6 2 14
Total 18 15 15 48

Results

Olympic Games

Year Position
Belgium 1920 11
France 1924 10
Netherlands 1928 Didn't participate
United States 1932 Didn't participate
Germany 1936 Didn't participate
United Kingdom 1948 1st
Finland 1952 3rd
Australia 1956 4
Italy 1960 1st
Japan 1964 4
Mexico 1968 4
West Germany 1972 8
Canada 1976 2nd
Soviet Union 1980 8
United States 1984 7
South Korea 1988 7
Spain 1992 1st
United States 1996 3rd
Australia 2000 5
Greece 2004 8
China 2008 9
United Kingdom 2012 2nd
Brazil 2016 Qualified

World Championship

FINA World League

FINA World Cup

Current squad

Squad for the 2016 Men's European Water Polo Championship.

No. Name Date of birth Position L/R Height Weight Club
1Tempesti, StefanoStefano Tempesti (c)9 June 1979Goalkeeper 205 cm (6 ft 9 in)97 kg (214 lb)Italy Pro Recco
2Di Fulvio, FrancescoFrancesco Di Fulvio15 August 1993 188 cm (6 ft 2 in)82 kg (181 lb)Italy Pro Recco
3Gitto, NiccolòNiccolò Gitto12 October 1986 189 cm (6 ft 2 in)76 kg (168 lb)Italy Pro Recco
4Figlioli, PietroPietro Figlioli29 May 1984 192 cm (6 ft 4 in)97 kg (214 lb)Italy Pro Recco
5Giorgetti, AlexAlex Giorgetti24 December 1987 186 cm (6 ft 1 in)78 kg (172 lb)Italy Pro Recco
6Bodegas, MichaelMichael Bodegas3 May 1987Centre Forward 192 cm (6 ft 4 in)102 kg (225 lb)Italy Pro Recco
7Giacoppo, MassimoMassimo Giacoppo10 May 1983 184 cm (6 ft 0 in)92 kg (203 lb)Italy Pro Recco
8Gallo, ValentinoValentino Gallo17 July 1985 193 cm (6 ft 4 in)92 kg (203 lb)Italy Posillipo
9Presciutti, ChristianChristian Presciutti27 November 1982 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)84 kg (185 lb)Italy AN Brescia
10Luongo, StefanoStefano Luongo5 January 1990 186 cm (6 ft 1 in)87 kg (192 lb)Italy Acquachiara
11Aicardi, MatteoMatteo Aicardi19 April 1986Centre Forward 192 cm (6 ft 4 in)104 kg (229 lb)Italy Pro Recco
12Baraldi, FabioFabio Baraldi21 March 1990 199 cm (6 ft 6 in)110 kg (240 lb)Italy Canottieri Napoli
13Del Lungo, MarcoMarco Del Lungo1 March 1990Goalkeeper 190 cm (6 ft 3 in)100 kg (220 lb)Italy AN Brescia
Head coach: Alessandro Campagna

References

External links

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