Buglaria vs. Italy | Extended Highlights | 2025 Fivb men's Volleyball Championship Finals | September 28

Not very much older than the Bulgarian team and already thinking in terms of dynasty. It is amazing how much young talent exists in the world of volleyball. Bulgaria in the white serving. It's Italy in blue receiving. It's the gold medal match of the Men's World Championship Philippines 2020. On the Italians. Looking to start that then. Ginelli. Not bad serve. What a good scoop. It's free ball now. Three front row attackers. One back row attack for Bulgaria. And they know that so well. Russo, this is what Bulgaria have been doing great. Russo just got on it brilliantly. Yeah, I mean that is tremendous layout dig from Balaso. He's been so good. Romano all over that early. Sparov serves dealt with. 50% spin serve. But I like that from Sparov. He's been a little bit off from the service line. Just trying to step. Tricky Miki. Danisandro Michioletto with the serve. It's whipped in. That's a lovely ball. What a good pass. And all nicely. Nothing spectacular from Michioletto. Credit that point to Kolev. Absolutely sticking the bomb from Michioletto. Turn. Kind of right shoulder forward in that position. One defense. What a swing that is from Michioletto. He's the top scorer in this tournament. Just feed him everywhere. You know we talk about the length and the difficulty of this tournament. Having to play so... Good serve. Half a chance here for Alex. And he's turned it into a full chance. And a point to level up the scores. At least 75% of a chance to Alex Nikolov. I think it's probably 80%, 90%. I mean, look at this. Just sneaking that through. But that's a great difficult bump set from... Back to serve. That's in. Just like that. Arena getting in on the action as well. That is... A spotter-off swing. Oh boy. That was well done. That was good improvisation. Scramble on both sides here. The scramble is real. The opportunity is there for... Mone. Now Bocelot's gonna have a big old swing. He's had a rip. Mone get in. He wanna touch on Otonis off him. Here's the tip. Good pick up. It was close. But Otonis off does get that left shoulder. Great serve. Nice recycle there from Bocelot. And that one goes high. Hands. Romano is on fire early here. Got the results. Now Mone. That's a lovely pass. Oh, it's a great hustle from Bulgaria. What a touch. Oh my goodness. And some defense. Serious defense. Oh yeah. Low seam. Never where you are trying to aim. But you'll take it if it's open. Kind of sends it into the crowd. Here comes Bocelot. Another big serve. But that's an opportunity here. A sparrow off. Now great touch in the block by Gianelli. Alex gets the better of Miki Alexo. Romano. I think that caught. Did it catch? Oh, I think that caught Mone on the way through. Emotions are understandably high here. Some conversation. Petolo. Putting them together here. It's back in front. Now they've got free ball. Two front row attackers. Plus Bocelot. Yes. What a hit. Petolo. More pressure again from the serving line. They can't run a fast middle. And the block is going to shut that down. Oh, that's such a well formed block. It really is, yeah. Gianelli might have gotten the majority of that. But Ansani was right there. Good pass. Yep. Right play. The first. The one he put in the net. Close to a football. The play continues. Oh, yes. Block. Casting for Bulgaria. It's very close. Really nice block. Now, Tanasov in a good position. Which is what Fernando wanted. Di Giorgi. And the Italy here. Romano gets that one. Bocelot for the set. Yes. Swipes it. Into the fingers. 25-21. Away we go then. Set number two. Italy with the serve. They are leading one set to nothing. Bulgaria looking for the opening point. And they will get it. That is a really good cutting. Extension. Have a look. Kolev just throwing it up near the net. And, I mean, that's a 70%. Bad serve. But it's right where Mone can distribute. And Tanasov will get the point. Credit goes to Donov for pulling the block up as well. Italy thinking maybe Mone is going to try to... Nice. Good solution found there by Bocelot. But it's still only a continuation attack. Well, you mentioned it. He kind of played his way in in that match last night. And here he is making... It's over. It's still in play. It must have come up. And Zani. Doesn't matter. Nikolov. In harm's way. Have a look. Oh, yeah. Right off the dome. Goodness. We call that a heads-up play. Oh. That's a good serve. It's going to be free ball for Italy. Two front-row attackers. Plus Pai. Pialetto. That 5-6 seam. Just crushing it across his body. But he can go anywhere when he's got nobody in front of him. Especially when he's got that kind of swervitude as well with his swing. Petolo. Lasso. Turning it back up the line. Look at the great finish. High through the three-man block from Mikio Leto. Oh, he's over, isn't he? Yeah, it's... Wow. Yeah, there you go, buddy. That is Mr. Velasso. Signore. Good serve. They haven't been able to run their nails at all. Boccheri. And then the block is shutting down the wing. Nowhere for Alex to go. It was Gianelli, I'm pretty sure. Not getting the rebound off the hands and wide this time like he did on Velasso. That's a lovely touch by Asparuov. And he wants it back. He gets it back. And Bulgaria getting themselves back into this set. That's a great serve. It was worth a swing. Romano makes it a little bit tricky. But it's Bulgaria who take that point. A sellout here for this final, as you'd expect. Still in play. Nikolov. Against him. Oh my goodness. Yes! Gianelli with the serve. Is that going to come back? Yes, it is. Tatarov can't get a swing. Romano can. And it's a blockade. Doesn't even look back. And give Nikolov... Good serve. Taking Asparuov out of the action. Slowing down Nikolov. It's a good time. It's a good touch. So deep. Oh, now comes Gianelli. Wow! Good pick up, Tatarov. Nikolov just goes right. I've got to play off these hands. And I've got to do it in a way that no one else can get to it. And back to serve. Oh, what a serve. No chance for Nikolov to have a swing. Nikolov had no clue where that was. Playing middle blocker. Playing outside blocker. No, got a tip higher than that. Butolo. Still, Italy have a chance. And it's taken. Romano, he is the go-to player at the moment. Absolutely. Or vice versa. Here comes Mone again. What a save from Anzani. But it's a break point chance here. Didn't get the timing right for that one. Italy might get off the rotation. Oh, they just about do it. Diving Petkov. Here comes Romano once again. Oh, clean ace this time. No stopping that one. Looking for a hat-trick. And getting it. That, no. The valley's open. Yeah, there's zero chance with that one. Defying the laws of physics. Aces in a row. We'll try and make something happen here from the serving line. Instant side-out. It is set point. Oh, it's all going Italy's way. Another ace there. That one, courtesy of the tape. The set number three. Bulgaria with the serve. They're trailing by two here against Italy in this gold medal match. Oh, that's gone right through. Off the box. Grozdanov with the serve. It's well dealt with by Niki Aletso. Good touch, Grozdanov. Oh, Alex Nikolov. And if you're wondering, why is he playing as opposite? Because he can. And he's just got this ability to hit from the right side, so they're going to use it in the back row. Right back at you. Real ding-dong. Sparrow at the moment. Get his timing right, all of which favours Nikolov. Chance here. That's a better touch in the block by Italy. And the speed of Anzani. Too good for Grozdanov. And all the various teams inside that hook, that's like, yeah, definitely this is a sport I want to play and be involved in. Oh, wow. That is tremendous from Gianelli. Good touch, Gianelli. Chance here, though, for Bulgaria. Alex takes it. He's fired up. Certainly is. Grozdanov's dealt with. And side-out, actually. Niki Aletso and Bottolo just... Yeah, the concessions options in this Mall of Asia arena are pretty phenomenal. The coach was saying, actually, that you've got to manage the situations better. Good side-out. Mr Reliable for Italy. Romano, again, to that deep corner. That's a good pass. The speed. The speed. And that move, the speed, so important. A bit of extra in there. Did that tennis off. Good touch. One foot. Oh, my goodness. Are you kidding me? Victory lap around the arena. That's a great dig from Kolov. Just put it up in the air. Three-point lead now for Bulgaria. Make it four. And it's a decent pass. Breakthrough. Stakes on the side of Bulgaria. It's in a really good place. The chance is what we want. It's exactly what we want. And for us neutrals, yeah, it'd be nice if this went to five. And they kind of make sure they take this set. Wonderful block. For Italy and what they've been doing in this championship. Making it difficult. Well played, Nicoletto. Where's that high IQ shot? Hanzani will go five to five. He normally does. Change up. That's right at the libero. That's going to be costly, is it? No, it might not be. Oh, wonderful. He's a master. Not happening for him at the minute. Here comes Nikolov. It's been happening for him. It's an ace for Nikolov. 20 plays, 14. Sparrow off. Sneaking in on the pipe. Grosvenor to serve the captain. He's in. Good swing. Nicoletto. He is an absolute legend of a setter. Pass by Alex. Good swing for Alex now. Bulgaria just three points away. Huge serve, but Belasso's put it on a plate. Desperately. And they're able to run the middle. That's how good a pass it was. Oh, got him. Oh, that is extra. It is a bonus. It's an ace serve. That's Anasov. It's set point, Bulgaria. Nice pass, Belasso. Manipulation from Poro. No catch ball. Wonderful. Asparullo. Straight arm. 10-foot steal. Did so well, didn't he? And I like that he didn't try and wipe it there, right? We've seen that play just basically. The way we go with set number four. Italy serving. They're leading two sets to one. It's Bulgaria. Full of confidence. Couldn't really go after that. It's a little bit too far in front as well to catch up to it. Good swing from Romano. Pressure on, but a good pass. Side out, Italy. He's also a world championship silver medalist. From such a high point. Good save from Anasov. He's only just walked on the court. Italy. Another good serve. Free ball for Italy. Two front row attackers. Two back row attackers. Micheleto waits. And then comes up with the point. It's a five point lead here for Italy. And she's been seen on the big screen. That was the wall. Good serve. From Botolo. Another great block. Serve and block. Master class. Wow. Pace. Depth. For Italy. Just gets in the way. Gets it high. Gives Ginelli time. And then Micheleto can go high. Fence. Beautifully. Excused. Right now, the man of the moment for Italy. Stars of now. This is Botolo. It's not like I'm just going to swing into it. He's put that exactly where he wanted it to go. Well done. Anasov not really a passer. Yes, wonderful. That set. As soon as that set was made. The ball. Botolo. He'll get it back. And he'll score. What an angle for Botolo. Taking out the right hand. Romano with that serve. Oh, is that a monster? Oh, yes it is. Two of those block points. Three serve points. I mean, he has just been Mr. All-Around. Italy continues to serve. Oh, does he get another one? He does. Of course he does. On this court. He's got another ace. Another ace. No way through. No footfall. That was well played. Manzani. Close. To being back-to-back champions. This is. Oh, it's all good. Out. Botolo. Take a bow. Ace, ace. More pressure from the serving line. Four blocks at the net. Botolo. Ace. Oh, I say. Botolo is. He can do no wrong. Everything he does is coming up magical. Botolo with the serve. Does he have one more? Not quite. Swing chance. Take out. Italy. Champions. They have beaten Bulgaria by three sets to one. It has been an emphatic performance from the Izuri.