Analysis of:
Italy – Poland 25.06.2025
Written by: Fredrik
Analysis Information
We are now in the second week of the Volleyball Nations League 2025. The host countries for this round are Bulgaria (Burgas), Serbia (Belgrade) and the USA (Chicago). In this analysis, we focus on the big match between Italy and Poland which will be played in Chicago on Wednesday, June 25 at 19:30 Norwegian time. Before we go into the match in more detail, you will get an overview of the match venues and the table after week 1.
Week 2: June 25-29. The national teams playing in the various host countries
| Bulgaria (Burgas) | Serbia (Belgrade) | United States (Chicago) |
| Bulgaria | Argentina | Brazil |
| France | Cuba | Canada |
| Japan | Iran | Italy |
| Slovenia | Netherlands | China |
| Turkey | Serbia | Poland |
| Ukraine | Germany | United States |
The table after the teams have played four games each
| Rank | Layer | Point |
| 1 | Poland | 12 |
| 2 | Japan | 9 |
| 3 | Brazil | 9 |
| 4 | Italy | 8 |
| 5 | Slovenia | 8 |
| 6 | Canada | 7 |
| 7 | Ukraine | 7 |
| 8 | China | 6 |
| 9 | France | 5 |
| 10 | Bulgaria | 5 |
| 11 | United States | 5 |
| 12 | Argentina | 5 |
| 13 | Germany | 6 |
| 14 | Iran | 4 |
| 15 | Cuba | 3 |
| 16 | Turkey | 3 |
| 17 | Netherlands | 3 |
| 18 | Serbia | 3 |
Italy – strengthens the squad
Italy has three wins and one loss after the first week of the Volleyball Nations League. For week 2, they have significantly strengthened their squad by bringing in the 211 cm tall winger Alessandro Michieletto – in my opinion one of the world's three best players. His return gives Italy a whole new dimension in attack that can help the other players, also considering that Poland will need a good match strategy to stop Michieletto in attack. Can Italy build momentum with Alessandro Michieletto on the court, and thus sail up as the favorite to win the Volleyball Nations League title?
Poland – will they continue their winning streak?
Poland fielded their B team in the first week of the Volleyball Nations League, but impressed greatly by winning all four of their matches in convincing fashion. With four straight wins, they show that they have one of the broadest squads in international volleyball. Everything indicates that Poland will continue with the same crew in week 2. Can they maintain their winning streak through week 2 of the Volleyball Nations League?
Conclusion and tips
Team rating
| Italy | >/< | Poland |
| The wingers | > | The wingers |
| The midfielders | – | The midfielders |
| Diagonal player | < | Diagonal player |
| Trailer | > | Trailer |
| Libero | – | Libero |
| 2 | SUM | 1 |
Expected starting seven from our Polish friend Jakub Balcerzak check it out X https://x.com/Jakub110Jakub
| Positions | Italy | Poland |
| Winger | Alessandro Micheletto & Daniele Lavia | Kamil Semeniuk & Artur Szalpuk TOP |
| Midfielder | Simone Anzani & Gianluca Galassi | Mateusz Poreba & Jakub Nowak |
| Diagonal player | Yuri Romano | Kevin Sasak |
| Trailer | Simone Giannelli | Marcin Komenda |
| Libero | Fabio Balaso | Maksymilian Granieczny |
On Wednesday we have a top match in the Volleyball Nations League between two big volleyball nations in Italy – Poland. Poland gets its first opportunity to fight back, after the Italian team Perugia beat the top Polish team Zawiercie 3–2 in the Champions League final just over a month ago – a spectacular match that ended 15–10 in the fifth set. Already here the players have a lot to play for.
Italy enters this match as the favorite after bringing in superstar Alessandro Michieletto on the wing. A lot will be about him in the offensive game, and if he has his day, it is difficult to imagine the Polish blockers and defenders being able to stop him – regardless of what game plan Poland comes up with. The challenge for Italy could be that the other attack points do not deliver well enough, and that Michieletto is given too much responsibility alone. It would not be surprising if he ends up with 20 points or more in this match.
Poland, on the other hand, must try to find the flow and team morale they showed in the first week of the Volleyball Nations League. Then the whole team contributed in attack, and the blocking and defense were good. A key for Poland will be that diagonal player Kewin Sasak has a solid day offensively – it is absolutely crucial if they are to be able to match Italy point for point.
I expect a close and even volleyball match, and therefore it will be an overplay.
Volleyball Nations League at 19:30: Italy – Poland: Over 183.5 points (1.82)
Alternative game: Volleyball Nations League at 19:30: Poland +1.5 handicap (1.66)
