Officials
Wojciech MAROSZEK
Susana Maria RODRIGUEZ JATIVA
Overview
The most awaited game and the last question: who will become the new European champion? Slovenia has a chance to win their maiden European crown, as they have two silver medals in their showcase (2015, 2019). After defeating Poland in front of the White-and-Red crowd, they hope to keep the momentum and go down to history once again. The team under guidance of Italian coach Alberto Giuliani suffered two defeats in the pool phase, losing the opening game to Czech Republic (but they took a revenge on them in quarterfinals) and to Italy, being beaten in straight sets. The rejuvenated Italian team with Fernando De Giorgi as a new head coach reached the final as the unbeaten team. Headed by captain and setter Simone Gianneli, they hope to win their seventh European title in history, especially that they have been waiting for since 2005.
Head-to-Head
· Italy beat Slovenia earlier this tournament 3-0 in the group stage, one of two losses for Slovenia this tournament. They also lost their opening match versus Czech Republic (3-1).
· Slovenia won the only other EuroVolley match versus Italy, 3-1 in the 2015 semi-finals. Slovenia lost the final 3-0 to France.
· Italy beat Slovenia 3-1 in the first round of the 2018 World Championship. Italy finished fifth in that tournament, while Slovenia came 12th.
· Earlier this year Slovenia beat Italy 3-0 in the round robin of the 2021 Volleyball Nations League. Slovenia went on to lose the bronze medal match versus France (3-0), while Italy finished 10th.
Slovenia
· Slovenia have reached the EuroVolley final for the third time in the last four editions, after 2015 (runners-up) and 2019 (runners-up). They did not finish higher than eighth in their other six participations.
· With their two second places, Slovenia is already the country with the most EuroVolley finals played without ever winning. Only Italy (4), Russia (3) and France (3) have lost more than two EuroVolley finals.
· Slovenia can become the first team since Italy in 2003 to win the European title after finishing runners-up at the previous edition.
· Slovenia reached the final by beating Poland 3-1 in the semi-finals, winning the fourth set 37-35. Those 72 points were the highest number of points in a set in the 2021 EuroVolley.
· Since 2015, Slovenia have won 19 matches in the European Championship in four participations, after winning only a total of three matches in their first four participations.
· Tonček Stern (110) has won the most points for Slovenia in the final round of this tournament. Stern scored a team-high 20 points in the semi-final against Poland. In the 2019 edition, Tine Urnaut (115) finished as Slovenia's top scorer.
Italy
· Italy are unbeaten in the 2021 European Championship (W8-L0), only losing three sets in total: 3-1 versus Bulgaria and Czech Republic in the group stage, and versus Serbia in the semi-finals.
· Italy remained unbeaten in their title runs in the European Championships in 2003 and 1993.
· Italy have reached the final of the European Championships for a record-extending 11th time. Their most recent appearance in the final came in 2013, when they finished runners-up to Russia.
· Italy won the European title on six occasions, most recently in 2005 when they defeated Russia in the final. The only other team to have won the title more than three times is Russia (14, including 12 as Soviet Union).
· Italy can record at least nine wins in a European Championship for the first time.
· Alessandro Michieletto is Italy's leading points scorer on 116 points. At EuroVolley 2019, Ivan Zaytsev (103) collected the most points for the Italians.
· Only Croatia's Leo Andric (23) has delivered more aces than Michieletto (18) in this year's final round.
Gianluca GALASSI"We try our best to win this game. It will be a battle. We are really happy to be here and will put everything we have into the court. Slovenia have some really good high ball spikers so we have to block well."
Middle Blocker - Italy
Gregor ROPRET"We are thrilled to be here. Yesterday was a big win but now we are focused on Italy. They have been in good form at EuroVolley and of course they beat us in the Pool - but today is a new day."
Setter - Slovenia
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Match Polls
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Officials
First RefereeWojciech MAROSZEKPOLSecond RefereeSusana Maria RODRIGUEZ JATIVAESP
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Venue Information
Spodek is an iconic landmark of Katowice that was built 50 years ago. The Spodek Arena and its additional facilities and usable surfaces form a multi-functional complex that spans nearly 7 hectares. 11,000 visitors can fit into the tribunes of the Spodek Arena for top level sports events or concerts. In 2019 Spodek hosted the largest e-sports event, Intel Extreme Masters, attracting a record turnout of 178,000 spectators. Positioned in the very heart of the city, next to the Spodek Sports and Entertainment Arena, an exceptional new area has been created. The Culture Zone consists of culture and entertainment centres, including the Spodek Arena, the International Conference Centre, the new seat of the Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra and the new Silesian Museum. Capacity: 11500
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How To Attend
Al. Korfantego 35, KATOWICE, 40-951 Capacity: 11500
The Spodek Arena is located 30km away from the Katowice International Airport in Pyrzowice. It takes around 30 min. to get to the airport by car. Numerous car parks located near the Spodek Arena make the facility comfortable to use. You can get to the Spodek Arena from the PKP railway station in Katowice by foot in 15 min. (2.5km), or by tram from the Katowice Dworzec PKP stop, taking trams T2, T11, T13, T23, T43 to the Katowice Rondo stop (8 min.) The nearest KZK GOP tram and bus stops for the Spodek Arena are the Katowice Rondo, Katowice Spodek, or Katowice Uniwersytecka stops. Get directions
Featured Players
Tine URNAUT
Bio
Tine Urnaut was born in 1988 in Slovenj Gradec into a true volleyball family – his mother, father and both brothers played volleyball. In his childhood he was an all-round sportsman, but during his time in the elementary school he became more and more interested in volleyball. He started practising volleyball in OK Fužinar Ravne.
Team
SLOVENIA 
Address
Črnuška cesta 9 Ljubljana - ČrnučeContacts
Previous Games
| 19/09/2021 | vs. |
2 - 3 | L | Go to Match Centre |
| 18/09/2021 | vs. |
3 - 1 | W | Go to Match Centre |
| 15/09/2021 | vs. |
3 - 0 | W | Go to Match Centre |
- All Time
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15Competitions Played
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1Titles
- Competition
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9Matches Played
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6Matches Won
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67%Win %
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21Sets Won
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762Points Won
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51%Attack %
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52%Reception %
Team
- Birth Date: 1988
- Birth Place: Slovenj Gradec
- Height: 200 cm
- Birth Date: 1995
- Birth Place: Ljubljana
- Height: 205 cm
- Birth Date: 1988
- Birth Place: SLOVENIA
- Height: 205 cm
- Birth Date: 1986
- Birth Place: Slovenj Gradec
- Height: 200 cm
- Birth Date: 1996
- Birth Place: Slovenj Gradec
- Height: 214 cm
- Birth Date: 1994
- Birth Place: Maribor
- Height: 193 cm
- Birth Date: 1992
- Birth Place: Slovenj Gradec
- Height: 202 cm
- Birth Date: 2002
- Birth Place: Maribor
- Height: 200 cm
Staff
Recent Results
Team Comparison
Gallery
Disclaimer
Photos featured on the CEV Photo Galleries are downloadable copyright free for media purposes only and only if CEV is credited as the source material. They are protected by copyright for all other commercial purposes. Those wishing to use CEV Photo Gallery photos for other commercial purposes should contact press@cev.eu
Italy top the podium, again!
Daniele LaviaI think that this win was incredible. This group, this team is really great and we showed it on the court. The key to this victory were our hearts. We also served well and in general we played good. I really don't know what to say, I'm just really happy.
outside hitter of Italy
Tine UrnautWe spent a lot of energy to beat Poland, we played amazing yesterday, today we played great in some moments, but sometimes we gave too easy points. All changed when their second opposite came in and played awesome. We didn't use the opportunity to lead in the 5th set 4-0 and they reopened the game. Italy played the best through the whole tournament. Before EuroVolley I think we didn't believe that we could go to the final, therefore we are happy about the medal, but losing the final is difficult
captain of Slovenia
The match in numbers
The combined total number of points scored by both teams throughout the entire match.
The total length of the match, from the first serve through until the last point has ended.
Total number of people in attendance at the venue – taken at the end of the second set.
The combined total number of successful spikes achieved by both teams throughout the entire match.
An average of the two team service reception percentages from the complete match.
The number of successful point winning blocks of SLOVENIA compared to ITALY.
SLOVENIA number of service aces compared to ITALY
Errors leading to points of SLOVENIA, next to those from ITALY
Photos
Disclaimer
Photos featured on the CEV Photo Galleries are downloadable copyright free for media purposes only and only if CEV is credited as the source material. They are protected by copyright for all other commercial purposes. Those wishing to use CEV Photo Gallery photos for other commercial purposes should contact press@cev.eu