The University National Team will have to make do with fighting it out for third place: the Azzurrini were defeated on penalties in the semi-finals in Salerno, with Japan winning 5-4 on penalties after the match had finished 3-3 in normal time. Brazil, managed to overcome Russia in the other semi-final clash, are the other side to make the final.

After their wins against Mexico and Ukraine during the group stage and then France in the quarters, Daniele Arrigoni’s men, who managed to come from 3-1 down to draw level in added time, lost in the shootout and will now battle it out for bronze in Salerno on Saturday at 17:00 CEST.
Daniele Arrigoni praised Italy’s opponents and his own players after the game: “I’ve coached at all levels, but rarely have I seen a side so well organised as Japan. We knew that they were an extremely strong side. This being said, however, my team were extraordinary, managing to draw level in the last minute. My boys gave it everything. There’s certainly disappointment that it went the way it did, but we need to start thinking about Saturday, when we’ll play our last match against Russia.”

ITALY 3-3 JAPAN (4-5 on pens)

ITALY: Marcantognini, Mercadante (62’ Zonta), Galli, Ruzzittu, Ungaro (69’ Galeandro), Vitturini, Tentardini, Pogliano, Strada (56’ Serena), Cericola (56’ Sbrissa), Grieco. Subs: Cucchietti, Giraudo, Gatti, Zonta, Florio, Collodel. Head Coach: Arrigoni

JAPAN: Abe, Yamahara, Yamakawa, Kaneko (67’ Nakamura), Ogashiwa (86’ Ueda), Hommura, Akimoto, Tsunoda, Yamamoto, Hayashi (77’ Morishita), Kodama (82’ Takamine). Subs: Obi, Tanaka, Mitoma, Hatate, Konno. Head Coach: Matsumoto

Referee: Freitas (Brazil). Assistants: Colaianni and Colavito (Italy). Fourth official: Quiroz Prado (Ecuador)

Goalscorers: 24’ (own goal) Yamahara, 28’ Kodama, 59’ Ogashiwa, 62’ Kaneko, 77’ Vitturini, 95’ Zonta (pen.).

Penalties: Takamine (goal), Sbrissa (goal), Hommura (miss), Grieco (miss), Akimoto (goal), Galeandro (goal), Yamamoto (goal), Serena (goal), Ueda (goal), Zonta (goal), Morishita (goal), Vitturini (miss).

Notes: Bookings: 40’ Ruzzittu, 62’ Tentardini, 65’ Hayashi, 73’ Grieco. Corners 8-7 in Italy’s favour. Added time: 2’, 5’