leli.

Exactly. I was cheering again for our team after a long time in which players didn't fight at all (in London 2012 I wasn't, for example. I was very sad Bulgaria lost the bronze to Italy, I admit it). But these guys are finally fighting again as a team is supposed to, showing they want to give all they have to win, and they made me very proud despite the "loss" of the gold (we won a beautiful silver imo, and nothing else). As you said, let's not forget that our setter, despite showing great plays and all, is still only 20... can you imagine in 8 years, when he'll be around the "standard maturity age for a setter" (and hopefully in Rome) what he's going to do, hopefully supported by another great team as this one is? I can't wait honestly!!

Oh Porcelain, yep. Totally reminds me too about the OG. Right now though I'm listening to this song and idk it makes me think about sportsmen and and sportswomen somehow (probably it's only me): ...and this too, as the TV spot reminded me

Intendi il sito RAI TV Dirette? http://www.rai.tv/dl/RaiTV/dirette_tv.html

nice! River trip:

2nd Libero Facundo Santucci out and opposite José Luis Gonzalez in (x)

So it seems Startseva was cut from Russia’s women roster because of doping scandal -back in the CL F4- (X)

haha yeah, Mother Nature's one!

all my love for... this plant hahah anyway sorry, I'm an OT photos girl it seems

Sure Gennari is now recovering from a knee surgery (but doing better and hopefully she will recover completely before the OG's start), but she's a better receiver than Diouf and we need more receivers in our team tbh. I'm sad for Valentina ofc, but I understand Bonitta's decision in the end. It seems the other option was to leave Centoni at home, but he decided for Diouf.

"... there are many kinds of magic, after all" / rain rain rain not too happy with the pic, but still...

I'm sorry to keep posting here...

ITALY'S MEN TEAM Setters: Pasquale Sottile, Simone Giannelli MBs: Matteo Piano, Simone Buti, Emanuele Birarelli, Opposites/Outside Hitters: Oleg Antonov, Osmany Juantorena, Filippo Lanza, Ivan Zaytsev, Luca Vettori, Salvatore Rossini (option second libero) Libero: Massimo Colaci ITALY'S WOMEN TEAM Setters: Eleonora Lo Bianco, Alessia Orro Opposites: Nadia Centoni, Valentina Diouf Outside Hitters: Antonella Del Core, Paola Egonu, Serena Ortolani, Miriam Sylla MBs: Cristina Chirichella, Anna Danesi, Martina Guiggi Libero: Monica De Gennaro

So happy for Serbia, congrats!! At least they were able to win this gold, I'm still so sad not to see them at the OG, those guys are great! And about Italy... Giannelli's face recieving the best setter awards says it all...

Sorry, I've been busy and couldn't log in. BTW I really don't know what to expect against Serbia today.. they had an amazing WL tournament (except the last matches, but understandable) and seem to work well even without Bata. But they played with no rest day...

Not sure if we can really beat Brazil unless they're in a very bad day and our guys in a very good one, but ofc, anything can happen... Let's see now what happens against USA

I'm still half dead and a bit sad since saturday night -- but congrats Croatia and all the others qualified

such a beautiful place! stormy weather here

ahahaha heat and anxiety (the latter probably more) will make us melt before the match ends

very nice!

same - my anxiety level is very high right now

For all those who are missing winter (probably not her)