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", a reference to both the Italian card game scopa and a standard water polo team having seven players.

Italy
FINA codeITA
Nickname(s)Il Settebello
AssociationItalian Swimming Federation
ConfederationLEN (Europe)
Head coachAlessandro Campagna
Asst coachAmedeo Pomilio
FINA ranking (since 2008)
Current8 (as of 9 August 2021)
Highest2 (2012, 2016)
Lowest9 (2008, 2009, 2010)
Olympic Games (team statistics)
Appearances20 (first in 1920)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (1948, 1960, 1992)
World Championship
Appearances19 (first in 1973)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (1978, 1994, 2011, 2019)
World Cup
Appearances11 (first in 1979)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (1993)
World League
Appearances19 (first in 2002)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (2022)
European Championship
Appearances33 (first in 1927)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (1947, 1993, 1995)
Europa Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2018)
Best result3rd place, bronze medalist(s) (2018)
Mediterranean Games
Appearances17 (first in 1955)
Best result1st place, gold medalist(s) (1955, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1991, 1993)
Media
Websitefedernuoto.it
Medal record
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1948 London Team
Gold medal – first place 1960 Rome Team
Gold medal – first place 1992 Barcelona Team
Silver medal – second place 1976 Montreal Team
Silver medal – second place 2012 London Team
Bronze medal – third place 1952 Helsinki Team
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Atlanta Team
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Rio Team
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1978 West Berlin Team
Gold medal – first place 1994 Rome Team
Gold medal – first place 2011 Shanghai Team
Gold medal – first place 2019 Gwangju Team
Silver medal – second place 1986 Madrid Team
Silver medal – second place 2003 Barcelona Team
Silver medal – second place 2022 Budapest Team
Bronze medal – third place 1975 Cali Team
World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1993 Athens
Silver medal – second place 1989 West Berlin
Silver medal – second place 1995 Atlanta
Silver medal – second place 1999 Sydney
Bronze medal – third place 1983 Malibu
World League
Gold medal – first place 2022 Strasbourg
Silver medal – second place 2003 New York
Silver medal – second place 2011 Florence
Silver medal – second place 2017 Ruza
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Almaty
European Championship
Gold medal – first place 1947 Monte Carlo
Gold medal – first place 1993 Sheffield
Gold medal – first place 1995 Vienna
Silver medal – second place 2001 Budapest
Silver medal – second place 2010 Zagreb
Bronze medal – third place 1954 Turin
Bronze medal – third place 1977 Jönköping
Bronze medal – third place 1987 Strasbourg
Bronze medal – third place 1989 Bonn
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Florence
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Budapest
Europa Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Rijeka
Mediterranean Games
Gold medal – first place 1955 BarcelonaTeam
Gold medal – first place 1963 NaplesTeam
Gold medal – first place 1975 AlgiersTeam
Gold medal – first place 1987 LatakiaTeam
Gold medal – first place 1991 AthensTeam
Gold medal – first place 1993 Languedoc-RoussillonTeam
Silver medal – second place 1959 BeirutTeam
Silver medal – second place 1967 TunisTeam
Silver medal – second place 1971 İzmirTeam
Silver medal – second place 1979 SplitTeam
Silver medal – second place 2001 TunisTeam
Silver medal – second place 2005 AlmeríaTeam
Bronze medal – third place 1983 CasablancaTeam
Bronze medal – third place 2009 PescaraTeam
Last updated: 5 September 2021

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 twelve championships in those five competitions, with the World League, the last competition which Italy won in 2022.

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
Competition1st place, gold medalist(s)2nd place, silver medalist(s)3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Total
Olympic Games 3238
World Championship 4318
World Cup 1315
World League 1315
European Championship 32611
Europa Cup 0011
Universiade 44614
Mediterranean Games 66214
Total22232166

Results

Olympic Games
Main article: Italy men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics
Year[2] Position Pld W D L
France 1900 Did not participate
United States 1904
United Kingdom 1908
Sweden 1912
Belgium 192010th2002
France 192411th1001
Netherlands 1928 Did not participate
United States 1932
Germany 1936
United Kingdom 19481st place, gold medalist(s)7610
Finland 19523rd place, bronze medalist(s)8602
Australia 19564th6303
Italy 19601st place, gold medalist(s)6510
Japan 19644th6303
Mexico 19684th9612
West Germany 19726th6323
Canada 19762nd place, silver medalist(s)8431
Soviet Union 19808th8413
United States 19847th7421
South Korea 19887th7322
Spain 19921st place, gold medalist(s)7520
United States 19963rd place, bronze medalist(s)8701
Australia 20005th8602
Greece 20048th7403
China 20089th8404
United Kingdom 20122nd place, silver medalist(s)8512
Brazil 20163rd place, bronze medalist(s)8503
Japan 20207th8422
Total21/27143871640

World Championship

FINA World Cup

FINA World League
  • 2002 – Semi-final round[2]
  • 2003 – 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 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 – 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 2012 – 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 2013 – Preliminary round
  • 2014 – Preliminary round
  • 2015 – 7th place
  • 2016 – 4th place
  • 2017 – 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 2018 – Did not participate
  • 2019 – Preliminary round
  • 2020 – 4th place
  • 2022 – 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal

European Championship
  • 1927 – 12th place
  • 1934 – 10th place
  • 1938 – 5th place
  • 1947 – 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 1950 – 4th place
  • 1954 – 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 1958 – 4th place
  • 1962 – 8th place
  • 1966 – 4th place
  • 1970 – 4th place
  • 1974 – 5th place
  • 1977 – 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 1981 – 6th place
  • 1983 – 7th place
  • 1985 – 4th place
  • 1987 – 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 1989 – 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 1991 – 4th place
  • 1993 – 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 1995 – 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 1997 – 6th place
  • 1999 – 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 2001 – 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 2003 – 9th place
  • 2006 – 5th place
  • 2008 – 5th place
  • 2010 – 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 2012 – 4th place
  • 2014 – 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 2016 – 6th place
  • 2018 – 4th place
  • 2020 – 6th place
  • 2022 – 4th place
  • 2024 – Qualified

Europa Cup
  • 2018 – 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal

Mediterranean Games
  • 1951 – Unknown
  • 1955 – 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 1959 – 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 1963 – 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 1967 – 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 1971 – 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 1975 – 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 1979 – 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 1983 – 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 1987 – 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 1991 – 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 1993 – 1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold medal
  • 1997 – 4th place
  • 2001 – 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 2005 – 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver medal
  • 2009 – 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze medal
  • 2013 – 4th place
  • 2018 – 5th place
  • 2022 – Qualified

Current squad

Roster for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Head coach: Sandro Campagna[3]

No. Player Pos. L/R Height Weight Date of birth (age) Apps OG/
Goals		 Club Ref
1 Marco Del Lungo 10GK 2R 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 97 kg (214 lb) (1990-03-01)1 March 1990 (aged 31) 190 1/0 Italy Brescia [4]
2 Francesco Di Fulvio 50D 2R 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 88 kg (194 lb) (1993-08-15)15 August 1993 (aged 27) 192 1/8 Italy Pro Recco [5]
3 Stefano Luongo 50D 2R 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) 84 kg (185 lb) (1990-01-05)5 January 1990 (aged 31) 167 0/0 Italy Pro Recco [6]
4 Pietro Figlioli (C) 50D 2R 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 98 kg (216 lb) (1984-05-29)29 May 1984 (aged 37) 263 4/42 Italy Pro Recco [7]
5 Nicholas Presciutti 20CB 2R 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) 90 kg (198 lb) (1993-12-14)14 December 1993 (aged 27) 109 0/0 Italy Pro Recco [8]
6 Alessandro Velotto 50D 2R 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 85 kg (187 lb) (1995-02-12)12 February 1995 (aged 26) 153 1/1 Italy Pro Recco [9]
7 Vincenzo Renzuto 50D 2R 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 80 kg (176 lb) (1993-04-08)8 April 1993 (aged 28) 95 0/0 Italy Brescia [10]
8 Gonzalo Echenique 50D 1L 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 96 kg (212 lb) (1990-04-27)27 April 1990 (aged 31) 59 1/11 Italy Pro Recco [11]
9 Niccolò Figari 20CB 2R 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 91 kg (201 lb) (1988-01-24)24 January 1988 (aged 33) 170 0/0 Italy Pro Recco [12]
10 Michaël Bodegas 40CF 2R 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 102 kg (225 lb) (1987-05-03)3 May 1987 (aged 34) 122 1/3 Spain Barceloneta [13]
11 Matteo Aicardi 40CF 2R 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 102 kg (225 lb) (1986-04-19)19 April 1986 (aged 35) 265 2/9 Italy Pro Recco [14]
12 Vincenzo Dolce 50D 2R 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 92 kg (203 lb) (1995-05-11)11 May 1995 (aged 26) 56 0/0 Italy Brescia [15]
13 Gianmarco Nicosia 10GK 2R 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 93 kg (205 lb) (1998-02-12)12 February 1998 (aged 23) 58 0/0 Italy Telimar Palermo [16]
Average 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 92 kg (203 lb) 30 years, 118 days 146

Note: Age as of 23 July 2021
Source: Italy Men | Tokyo 2020 Olympics Archived 2021-07-22 at the Wayback Machine

See also

References
  1. "FEDERAZIONE - Federazione Italiana Nuoto". Archived from the original on 5 January 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2013. 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 1 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  3. "CAMPAGNA Alessandro". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  4. "Del LUNGO Marco". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  5. "Di FULVIO Francesco". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  6. "LUONGO Stefano". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  7. "FIGLIOLI Pietro". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  8. "PRESCIUTTI Nicholas". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  9. "VELOTTO Alessandro". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  10. "RENZUTO IODICE Vincenzo". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  11. "ECHENIQUE Gonzalo". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  12. "FIGARI Niccolo". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  13. "BODEGAS Michael Alexandre". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  14. "AICARDI Matteo". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  15. "DOLCE Vincenzo". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  16. "NICOSIA Gianmarco". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
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