Italy men's national water polo team

Italy
Nickname(s) Settebello
Association Federazione Italiana Nuoto
Confederation LEN (Europe)
Head coach Alessandro Campagna
Asst coach Amedeo Pomilio
Captain Pietro Figlioli
FINA code ITA
Olympic Games
Appearances 19 (first in 1920)
Best result 1st, gold medalist(s) (1948, 1960, 1992)
World Championships
Appearances 17 (first in 1973)
Best result 1st, gold medalist(s) (1978, 1994, 2011)
World League
Appearances 9 (first in 2002)
Best result 2nd, silver medalist(s) (2003, 2011, 2017)
World Cup
Appearances 11 (first in 1979)
Best result 1st, gold medalist(s) (1993)
European Championship
Appearances 31 (first in 1927)
Best result 1st, gold medalist(s) (1947, 1993, 1995)
Europa Cup
Appearances 1 (first in 2018)
Best result 3rd, bronze medalist(s) (2018)
Mediterranean Games
Appearances 16 (first in 1955)
Best result 1st, gold medalist(s) (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

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 1947.

Palmarès

Competition1st, gold medalist(s)2nd, silver medalist(s)3rd, bronze medalist(s)Total
Olympic Games 3238
World Championship 3216
European Championship 32611
Universiade 33410
Mediterranean Games 66214
Total18151548

Results

Olympic Games

Year Position Pld W D L GF GA GD
France 1900 Did not participate
United States 1904
United Kingdom 1908
Sweden 1912
Belgium 192011
France 192410
Netherlands 1928Didn't participate
United States 1932Didn't participate
Germany 1936Didn't participate
United Kingdom 19481st, gold medalist(s)
Finland 19523rd, bronze medalist(s)
Australia 19564
Italy 19601st, gold medalist(s)
Japan 19644
Mexico 19684
West Germany 19728
Canada 19762nd, silver medalist(s)
Soviet Union 19808
United States 19847
South Korea 19887
Spain 19921st, gold medalist(s)
United States 19963rd, bronze medalist(s)
Australia 20005
Greece 20048
China 20089
United Kingdom 20122nd, silver medalist(s)
Brazil 20163rd, bronze medalist(s)
Total20/27

World Championship

FINA World League

  • 2002 — Semifinal round
  • 2003 — 2nd, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 2004 — 4th place
  • 2005 — Semifinal round
  • 2006 — Preliminary round
  • 2007 — Preliminary round
  • 2008 — 7th place
  • 2009 — 5th place
  • 2010 — Preliminary round
  • 2011 — 2nd, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 2012 — 3rd, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 2013 — Preliminary round
  • 2014 — Preliminary round
  • 2015 — 7th place
  • 2016 — 4th place
  • 2017 — 2nd, silver medalist(s) Silver medal

FINA World Cup

  • 1979 — 6th place
  • 1983 — 3rd, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 1985 — 5th place
  • 1987 — 5th place
  • 1989 — 2nd, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 1993 — 1st, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 1995 — 2nd, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 1997 — 5th place
  • 1999 — 2nd, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 2002 — 4th place
  • 2006 — 5th place

European Championship

  • 1927 — 12th place
  • 1934 — 10th place
  • 1938 — 5th place
  • 1947 — 1st, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 1950 — 4th place
  • 1954 — 3rd, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 1958 — 4th place
  • 1962 — 8th place
  • 1966 — 4th place
  • 1970 — 4th place
  • 1974 — 5th place
  • 1977 — 3rd, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 1981 — 6th place
  • 1983 — 7th place
  • 1985 — 4th place
  • 1987 — 3rd, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 1989 — 3rd, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 1991 — 4th place
  • 1993 — 1st, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 1995 — 1st, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 1997 — 6th place
  • 1999 — 3rd, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 2001 — 2nd, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 2003 — 9th place
  • 2006 — 5th place
  • 2008 — 5th place
  • 2010 — 2nd, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 2012 — 4th place
  • 2014 — 3rd, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 2016 — 6th place
  • 2018 — 4th place

LEN Europa Cup

  • 2018 — 3rd, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal

Current squad

Roster for the 2018 Men's European Water Polo Championship.[2]

Head coach: Alessandro Campagna

No Name Date of birth Position L/R Height Weight Club
1Marco Del Lungo3 January 1990GoalkeeperR1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)100 kg (220 lb)Italy AN Brescia
2Francesco Di Fulvio15 August 1993Field playerR1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)82 kg (181 lb)Italy Pro Recco
3Guillermo Molina16 March 1984Centre backR1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)108 kg (238 lb)Italy Pro Recco
4Pietro Figlioli (C)29 May 1984Field playerR1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)97 kg (214 lb)Italy Pallanuoto Sport Management
5Andrea Fondelli27 February 1994Field playerL1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)90 kg (200 lb)Italy Pallanuoto Sport Management
6Alessandro Velotto12 February 1995DefenderR1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)79 kg (174 lb)Italy CC Napoli
7Vincenzo Renzuto8 April 1993DefenderR1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)76 kg (168 lb)Croatia VK Jug
8Valentino Gallo17 July 1985Field playerL1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)92 kg (203 lb)Italy Pallanuoto Sport Management
9Nicholas Presciutti14 December 1993Centre forwardR1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)90 kg (200 lb)Italy AN Brescia
10Michaël Bodegas3 May 1987Centre backR1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)102 kg (225 lb)Italy Pro Recco
11Gonzalo Echenique27 April 1990WingL1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)94 kg (207 lb)Italy Pro Recco
12Zeno Bertoli22 December 1988DefenderR1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)90 kg (200 lb)Italy AN Brescia
13Gianmarco Nicosia12 February 1998GoalkeeperR1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)87 kg (192 lb)Italy Pallanuoto Sport Management

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 January 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2013. History of Italian Water Polo
  2. ↑ "Team Roster" (PDF). wp2018bcn.microplustiming.com. 16 July 2018.
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