Setter Dragan Travica will be hoping Italy will start their 2015 World League campaign with a win
Adelaide, Australia, May 25, 2015 – The Italian men’s national team arrived in Australia after a long journey on Monday and immediately set about working for their weekend debut in the 2015 World League when they will face Roberto Santilli’s Australia.
After a morning session in the weights room, Dragan Travica and others visited the Italian Consulate.
The Italian delegation was received by Consul Orietta Borgia who commented: “It is our pleasure to host you in this city so far away from our country. We have a big Italian community here and they are wishing you good luck in the competition. I'm sure many will be in the stands cheering for you over the weekend. Needless to say, we are honoured to have you here; your presence makes us feel a little closer to Italy.”
Coach Mauro Berruto responded: “Every time we wear the national team, we do it with the hope of making all Italians proud, and in particular this happens when we are abroad, especially in far-flung cities. The warmth of our people never fails. Of course, we will try to do our best to give hope to all those who come to see us.”
Travica added: “We are honoured to have been received by our fellow citizens. Fortunately for us, this is becoming a nice habit and every time it happens, I have to admit, it's always nice and exciting. It's special to feel closer to home and we always enjoy meeting our compatriots around the world.”
For this trip, Berruto has called up setters Travica and Simone Giannelli; opposites Giulio Sabbi and Luca Vettori; central blockers Aimone Alletti, Simone Anzani, Elia Bossi and Stefano Mengozzi; spikers Oleg Antonov, Iacopo Botto, Filippo Lanza and Luigi Randazzo; and liberos Massimo Colaci and Andrea Giovi. Six of them – Giannelli, Alletti, Bossi, Mengozzi, Antonov and Botto – are newcomers.