Iran coach Roberto Piazza said he is "sorry" for having to face host Philippines in their Pool A decider, noting he would have rather faced any other team in the FIVB World Championship.
Iran head coach Roberto Piazza admitted that he would have preferred to avoid facing the host nation, Alas Pilipinas, in his team’s last Pool A match of the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship.
Still, with everything on the line, he knows the only option is to focus inward.
“Sorry. I can say sorry because I would like to play against another team and not against the Philippines because it’s the host of the World Championship,” Piazza after Iran’s win over Tunisia.
“It’s my fourth season in a row that I am here. Before, I was here in the VNL and now in the World Championship. Every time, it’s amazing, the situation. But I need to think about my team, so that’s why I want to put the focus on us.”
Wide-open Pool A
The stakes could not be higher for the upcoming Alas Pilipinas-iran showdown.
Heading into the final day of preliminaries, all four teams in Pool A are deadlocked with identical 1-1 records, leaving the group wide open.
For Piazza, that means nothing has been achieved yet—and Iran cannot afford to dwell on past results.
“I already said to the guys in the court immediately after the final ball, we have to do another step. It’s not enough what we did until now because we have three points, four sets in our side and four sets in the opponent’s side,” he said.
“So zero in the end until now, zero. One, but for me, it’s zero. We did nothing, so it’s exactly balanced. It depends on us and also from the result of the other one [Philippines vs. Egypt], but first thing, we can do a step.”
[ALSO READ: Coach Roberto Piazza urges Iran to 'take another step' ahead of crucial duel with Alas in FIVB Worlds]
Quiet but determined
Iran now enters its decisive clash knowing a single slip could mean the end of its World Championship campaign.
Iran defeats Tunisia in the 2025 FIVB Men's World Championship. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
With the unpredictability of Pool A, Piazza emphasized the importance of composure and discipline for his squad, especially in front of what will be a jam-packed crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
“That’s why I prefer to put the focus on my team, and we have to be quiet but so determined,” he stressed.
Alas Pilipinas and Iran will battle it out for the Round of 16 slot on Thursday, September 18.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.