Mattia Bottolo says humility and an "outsider" mindset have been key to Italy's dream return to the 2025 FIVB Men's World Championship semifinals.
Mattia Bottolo believes Italy’s return to the semifinals of the 2025 FIVB Men's World Championship is proof that even champions must stay humble.
The Azzurri swept Belgium in the quarterfinals, 25-13, 25-18, 25-18, to clinch back-to-back semifinal appearances.
For Bottolo, repeating such a feat in today’s increasingly competitive field feels more like a dream realized than just another goal achieved.
Dream realized
“It was not a goal for us but a dream to come again in this Top 4,” Bottolo said. “It is difficult to repeat the same story because the level of the teams in the world is coming to the same average. For us, coming at this point showed that we can keep growing and show how strong Italy is in the world.”
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Italy’s pool play stumble against Belgium turned into a valuable lesson.
“We learned that you can lose against everyone and this changes the attitude you need to have on the court. You have to keep humble, keep thinking about how you can improve every match, every game, every detail. For us, this is the key to success.”
[ALSO READ: Loss to Belgium in FIVB MWCH pool phase a wake-up call for Italy, says Mattia Bottolo]
Outsider mentality
Heading into the tournament, the Azzurri consciously reset their approach.
Italy celebrate after scoring a point during their straight-sets win over Belgium in the 2025 FIVB Men's World Championship quarterfinals. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
That mindset, Bottolo added, has kept Italy sharp and hungry.
“At the beginning of the tournament, we had a conversation all together and we said we have to start again, thinking as we did in 2022 before the World Championship. You have to think of yourself as an outsider and not as a powerhouse,” Bottolo explained.
“The attention you put onto the court every match is the key to beat strong teams and even not to lose against the ones who don’t respect you.”
Next challenge
Italy now shifts its focus to the semifinals on Saturday, September 27, where it will face either Poland or Turkiye.
The 25-year-old spiker acknowledged the challenge but stressed confidence in his team’s preparation.
“We know that even Poland and Turkiye can beat us, and at the same point, we can beat them. In one match, it’s hard to predict how it will end. So now we focus on the rest for today and then we’ll be thinking about the semifinals,” he said.
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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.