Italy men's national water polo team
| Nickname(s) | Settebello |
|---|---|
| Association | Federazione Italiana Nuoto |
| Confederation | LEN (Europe) |
| Head coach | Alessandro Campagna |
| Asst coach |
Alessandro Duspiva Amedeo Pomilio |
| Captain | Pietro Figlioli |
| FINA code | ITA |
| Olympic Games | |
| Appearances | 20 (first in 1920) |
| Best result |
 (1948, 1960, 1992) |
| World Championships | |
| Appearances | 17 (first in 1973) |
| Best result |
(1978, 1994, 2011) |
| World League | |
| Appearances | 7 (first in 2002) |
| Best result |
 (2003, 2011, 2017) |
| World Cup | |
| Appearances | 11 (first in 1979) |
| Best result |
(1993) |
| European Championship | |
| Appearances | 30 (first in 1927) |
| Best result |
(1947, 1993, 1995) |
| Mediterranean Games | |
| Appearances | 16 (first in 1955) |
| Best result |
(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 8 Olympic medals, 6 World Championships, 5 World Cup, 11 European Championships medals and 3 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
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 1947.
Palmarès
| Competition | | |  | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| 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 |
|---|---|
.svg.png){kind=small} 1920 | 11 |
 1924 | 10 |
 1928 | Didn't participate |
 1932 | Didn't participate |
.svg.png){kind=small} 1936 | Didn't participate |
 1948 | |
 1952 | |
 1956 | 4 |
 1960 | |
 1964 | 4 |
 1968 | 4 |
 1972 | 8 |
 1976 | |
 1980 | 8 |
| 1984 | 7 |
 1988 | 7 |
 1992 | |
| 1996 | |
| 2000 | 5 |
 2004 | 8 |
 2008 | 9 |
| 2012 | |
 2016 | |
World Championship
- 1973 — 4th place
- 1975 — Bronze medal
- 1978 — Gold medal
- 1982 — 9th place
- 1986 — Silver medal
- 1991 — 6th place
- 1994 — Gold medal
- 1998 — 5th place
- 2001 — 4th place
- 2003 — Silver medal
- 2005 — 8th place
- 2007 — 5th place
- 2009 — 11th place
- 2011 — Gold medal
- 2013 — 4th place
- 2015 — 4th place
- 2017 — 6th place
FINA World League
- 2002 — Semifinal round
- 2003 — Silver medal
- 2004 — 4th place
- 2005 — Semifinal round
- 2006 — Preliminary round
- 2007 — Preliminary round
- 2008 — 7th place
- 2009 — 5th place
- 2010 — Preliminary round
- 2011 — Silver medal
- 2012 — Bronze medal
- 2013 — Preliminary round
- 2014 — Preliminary round
- 2015 — 7th place
- 2016 — 4th place
- 2017 — Silver medal
FINA World Cup
- 1979 — 6th place
- 1983 — Bronze medal
- 1985 — 5th place
- 1987 — 5th place
- 1989 — Silver medal
- 1993 — Gold medal
- 1995 — Silver medal
- 1997 — 5th place
- 1999 — Silver medal
- 2002 — 4th place
- 2006 — 5th place
Current squad
Squad for the 2017 World Aquatics Championships.[2]
Head coach: Alessandro Campagna
| № | Name | Pos. | Height | Weight | L/R | Date of birth | 2016/17 club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stefano Tempesti | GK | 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) | 97 kg (214 lb) | R | 9 June 1979 | Pro Recco |
| 2 | Francesco Di Fulvio | D | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 82 kg (181 lb) | R | 15 August 1993 | Pro Recco |
| 3 | Niccolò Gitto | CF | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | 76 kg (168 lb) | R | 12 October 1986 | Sport Management |
| 4 | Pietro Figlioli (c) | D | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | 97 kg (214 lb) | R | 29 May 1984 | Pro Recco |
| 5 | Nicholas Presciutti | CF | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | 90 kg (198 lb) | R | 14 December 1993 | Brescia |
| 6 | Cristiano Mirarchi | D | R | 11 July 1991 | Sport Management | ||
| 7 | Alessandro Nora | D | L | 24 May 1987 | Brescia | ||
| 8 | Andrea Fondelli | D | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | 90 kg (198 lb) | L | 24 February 1994 | Pro Recco |
| 9 | Vincenzo Renzuto Iodice | D | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 80 kg (176 lb) | R | 8 April 1993 | Posillipo |
| 10 | Michaël Bodegas | CF | R | 3 May 1987 | Pro Recco | ||
| 11 | Matteo Aicardi | CF | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | 104 kg (229 lb) | R | 19 April 1986 | Pro Recco |
| 12 | Zeno Bertoli | CF | R | 22 December 1988 | Brescia | ||
| 13 | Goran Volarević | GK | R | 2 April 1977 | Pro Recco |
References
- ↑ http://www.federnuoto.it/federazione.asp?p=testo&id=40 History of Italian Water Polo
- ↑ "Budapest 2017 Italian Men's Water Polo Team" (PDF). Omega Timing. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
External links
| Unified | |
|---|---|
| Men | |
| Women | |
| At the multi-sport events | |