Italy men's national water polo team

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".

Italy
FINA codeITA
Nickname(s)Il Settebello
AssociationItalian Swimming Federation
ConfederationLEN (Europe)
Head coachAlessandro Campagna
Asst coachAmedeo Pomilio
CaptainPietro Figlioli
FINA ranking (since 2008)
Current4 (as of February 2020)
Highest2 (2012)
Lowest9 (2008, 2009, 2010)
Olympic Games
Appearances20 (first in 1920)
Best result (1948, 1960, 1992)
World Championship
Appearances18 (first in 1973)
Best result (1978, 1994, 2011, 2019)
World Cup
Appearances11 (first in 1979)
Best result (1993)
World League
Appearances17 (first in 2002)
Best result (2003, 2011, 2017)
European Championship
Appearances32 (first in 1927)
Best result (1947, 1993, 1995)
Europa Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2018)
Best result (2018)
Mediterranean Games
Appearances17 (first in 1955)
Best result (1955, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1991, 1993)
Media
Websitefedernuoto.it

The Italian men's water polo team has won 8 Olympic medals, 7 World Championships, 5 World Cup, 11 European Championships medals and 3 World League medals, making them one of the most successful men's water polo teams in the world. They have won a combined eleven 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 four World Championships, in 1978, 1994, 2011 and 2019, and the World Cup once in 1993. Italy also claimed their first European Championship in 1947.

Competitive record
CompetitionTotal
Olympic Games 3238
World Championship 4217
European Championship 32611
Universiade 43411
Mediterranean Games 66214
Total21151652

Results

Olympic Games
Year[2] Position Pld W D L
1900 Did not participate
1904
1908
1912
192010th2002
192411th1001
1928 Did not participate
1932
1936
19487610
19528602
19564th6303
19606510
19644th6303
19684th9612
19726th6323
19768431
19808th8413
19847th7421
19887th7322
19927520
19968701
20005th8602
20048th7403
20089th8404
20128512
20168503
2020Qualified
Total21/27

World Championship

FINA World Cup

FINA World League
  • 2002 – Semi-final round[2]
  • 2003 – Silver medal
  • 2004 – 4th place
  • 2005 – Semi-final round
  • 2006 – Preliminary round
  • 2007 – Preliminary round
  • 2008 – 7th place
  • 2009 – 5th place
  • 2010 – Preliminary round
  • 2011 – Silver medal
  • 2012 – Bronze medal
  • 2013 – Preliminary round
  • 2014 – Preliminary round
  • 2015 – 7th place
  • 2016 – 4th place
  • 2017 – Silver medal
  • 2018 – Did not participate
  • 2019 – Preliminary round

European Championship
  • 1927 – 12th place
  • 1934 – 10th place
  • 1938 – 5th place
  • 1947 – Gold medal
  • 1950 – 4th place
  • 1954 – Bronze medal
  • 1958 – 4th place
  • 1962 – 8th place
  • 1966 – 4th place
  • 1970 – 4th place
  • 1974 – 5th place
  • 1977 – Bronze medal
  • 1981 – 6th place
  • 1983 – 7th place
  • 1985 – 4th place
  • 1987 – Bronze medal
  • 1989 – Bronze medal
  • 1991 – 4th place
  • 1993 – Gold medal
  • 1995 – Gold medal
  • 1997 – 6th place
  • 1999 – Bronze medal
  • 2001 – Silver medal
  • 2003 – 9th place
  • 2006 – 5th place
  • 2008 – 5th place
  • 2010 – Silver medal
  • 2012 – 4th place
  • 2014 – Bronze medal
  • 2016 – 6th place
  • 2018 – 4th place
  • 2020 – 6th place

Europa Cup
  • 2018 – Bronze medal

Mediterranean Games
  • 1951 – Unknown
  • 1955 – Gold medal
  • 1959 – Silver medal
  • 1963 – Gold medal
  • 1967 – Silver medal
  • 1971 – Silver medal
  • 1975 – Gold medal
  • 1979 – Silver medal
  • 1983 – Bronze medal
  • 1987 – Gold medal
  • 1991 – Gold medal
  • 1993 – Gold medal
  • 1997 – 4th place
  • 2001 – Silver medal
  • 2005 – Silver medal
  • 2009 – Bronze medal
  • 2013 – 4th place
  • 2018 – 5th place

Current squad

Roster for the 2020 Men's European Water Polo Championship.[3]

Head coach: Alessandro Campagna

No Name Pos. L/R Date of birth Height Weight Caps Club
1Marco Del LungoGKR (1990-03-01) 1 March 19901.90 m (6 ft 3 in)100 kg (220 lb)175 AN Brescia
2Francesco Di FulvioWR (1993-08-15) 15 August 19931.88 m (6 ft 2 in)82 kg (181 lb)177 Pro Recco
3Stefano LuongoWR (1990-01-05) 5 January 19901.84 m (6 ft 0 in)84 kg (185 lb)153 Pro Recco
4Pietro Figlioli (C)FPR (1984-05-29) 29 May 19841.92 m (6 ft 4 in)97 kg (214 lb)254 Sport Management
5Andrea FondelliWR (1994-02-27) 27 February 19941.87 m (6 ft 2 in)90 kg (200 lb)129 Pro Recco
6Alessandro VelottoDFR (1995-02-12) 12 February 19951.85 m (6 ft 1 in)79 kg (174 lb)142 Pro Recco
7Vincenzo RenzutoDFR (1993-04-08) 8 April 19931.82 m (6 ft 0 in)76 kg (168 lb)88 Pro Recco
8Gonzalo EcheniqueWL (1990-04-27) 27 April 19901.94 m (6 ft 4 in)96 kg (212 lb)46 Pro Recco
9Niccolò FigariDFR (1988-01-24) 24 January 19881.98 m (6 ft 6 in)91 kg (201 lb)156 AN Brescia
10Michaël BodegasCBR (1987-05-03) 3 May 19871.92 m (6 ft 4 in)102 kg (225 lb)110 CN Atlètic-Barceloneta
11Matteo AicardiCFR (1986-04-19) 19 April 19861.92 m (6 ft 4 in)104 kg (229 lb)255 Pro Recco
12Vincenzo DolceFPR (1995-05-11) 11 May 19951.95 m (6 ft 5 in)92 kg (203 lb)42 Sport Management
13Gianmarco NicosiaGKR (1998-02-12) 12 February 19981.87 m (6 ft 2 in)93 kg (205 lb)46 Sport Management

See also

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 January 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) History of Italian Water Polo
  2. "HistoFINA – Water polo medalists and statistics" (PDF). fina.org. FINA. September 2019. pp. 4, 14, 25, 40, 48. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  3. "2020 European Championships roster" (PDF). wp2020budapest.microplustiming.com. p. 8. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
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