In Pool I Spain did not give chances to Egypt, in Pool G Italy won over Puerto Rico. Both teams got to the 3rd round from the 1st places. Italy is still without loss.
Pool I: Spain – Egypt
After the defeat with Russia, the Spanish team needed to win their last match with Egypt in order to get to the 3rd round. The goal has been accomplished. Egypt was fighting only in the second set (won 30:28). The first set started with a tied game. In attack were leading Abdelhay, in Egypt, and Noda, in Spain. However, on the second technical time out the Spanish team took the advantage and did not give it over till the end of this set. The second set was really exciting. There were many good attacks and blocks. There was a tie 28:28 when Spain made a mistake, that was enough for Egypt to take the lead and win this set 30:28. In the 3rd set Egypt lost concentration. They were making too many errors, while Spain was doing a great job in attack. The next set was only a formality, Spain won it easily 25:19 and the whole match 3-1.
Egypt – Spain 1-3 (20:25, 30:28, 16:25, 19:25)
Egypt: Youssef (9), Ahmed Abdalla (6), Abdelhay (23), Atia (4), El Kotb (3), Badawy (14), Alaydy (L) and Abouelhassan, Afifi, Abd El Kader (4).
Spain: Sevillano (13), Noda (10), Hernan (2), Fernandez (11), Perez (22), Garcia-Torres (11), Llenas (L) and Saucedo (2), Rodriguez (1), Salas, Gens (1).
Spain got promoted to the 3rd round from the 1st place. They will play in Pool Q in Florence with Bulgaria and Cuba.
Pool G: Italy – Puerto Rico
The Italian team won their first match in the 2nd round over Germany and were sure to play in the next round. Nevertheless, they played with Puerto Rico with ambition and willingness to win. From the first ‘ball’ of this game Italy took the lead. They had six-point advantage on the second technical time out. After that the Italians had a problem to receive a strong service of Soto and Puerto Rico was only 2 points behind. However, Italy showed their experience and won the first part. The second set was a demonstration of Italian blocks (6 blocks before the first technical time out). Puerto Rico could not handle with an excellent game of opponents and lost the second set 16:25. In the next set Puerto Rico repay Italy for blocks in the previous part of this match and they ‘catch’ them with some blocks themselves. Soto added a good service and ‘Azzurri’ must recognise the Puerto Rico’s victory. But they did not give up and wanted to finish this match as quickly as possible. In the 4th set they were nervous and could not find a way to beat Puerto Rico. But the opponents were also making mistakes and did not take an advantage. Finally it is Italy that showed a ‘high class’, won the whole match 3-1 and sent Puerto Rico home.
Italy – Puerto Rico 3-1 (25:22, 25:16, 18:25, 25:21)
Italy: Mastrangelo (12), Parodi (13), Vermiglio (2), Fei (20), Sala (6), Cernic (8), Marra (L) and Lasko (2), Travica (1), Zaytsev (2).
Puerto Rico: Rivera J. (9), Rivera V. (4), Perez, Escalante (9), Rodriguez (1), Soto (18), Rosario (L) and Muniz (5), Figueroa (10), Erazo, Matias, Morales (2).
Italy also got promoted from the first place and will play in Pool O in Rome with USA and France.