Italian head coach Carlo Silipo has stuck with the exact 15-player squad that won bronze at the European Championships for the World League Super Finals in Tenerife next week.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is the mentality of the Setterosa, as they try to win the World League Super Finals for the first time in their history, having finished as runners-up on four occasions (2006, 2011, 2014, and 2019).
Italy has shown a marked improvement under the stewardship of Carlo Silipo, who took over after the Setterosa failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. They have finished in the top four in each of their last three major tournaments: third at the European Championships, fourth at the World Championships, and third at the World League Euro Finals.
Photo: Total Waterpolo/ Laszlo Balogh
SIS Roma and Ekipe Orizzonte account for the majority of the roster’s representation. Six players represent the team from the capital (Tabani, Giustini, Di Claudio, Picozzi, Galardi and Coccheire) while five players represent the reigning champions from Catania (Palmieri, Marletta, Viacava, Bettini and Condorelli).
Italy has a well-poised group that includes the reigning Olympic, World, and World League Champions, the United States; Canada, which held Italy to a 7-7 draw on the first day of the World Championships in Budapest; and the Netherlands, who are quickly developing a rivalry with the Italians.
Setterosa Roster for World League Super Finals
Caterina Banchelli, Aurora Condorelli, Roberta Bianconi, Lucrezia Cergol, Silvia Avegno, Chiara Tabani, Giuditta Galardi, Agnese Cocchiere, Sofia Giustini, Domitilla Picozzi, Luna Di Claudio, Valeria Palmieri, Claudia Marletta, Giulia Viacava, Dafne Bettini
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