After the Iranian men's national volleyball team secured the silver medal at the XXIII AVC Volleyball Championship, Italian coach Roberto Piazza expressed admiration for his players' persistence until the last point of the match.
In the final game on Sunday, Iran lost to the host team Japan with a score of 3:0 (25–21, 26–24, 25–23), which deprived the team of a chance to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Piazza praises the Iranian team's fighting spirit
Piazza stated that the most important aspect was that the team never gave up. He noted that they were engaged in the game from the very beginning. The loss of the first set, in his opinion, was a consequence of the team's own mistakes, not Japan's exceptional skill. The coach also emphasized that the Iranian side contributed to the outcome of the first set.
The Italian specialist stressed that the defeat should be viewed as an overall team result, not as the responsibility of individual players. He added that he does not want to blame anyone because they play as a single unit and ultimately managed to fight until the end.
Piazza explained that the team was leading in the second set and had a 6-2 advantage in the third set. However, according to him, at the decisive moment when finding a special ball was required, Japan managed it, while Iran could not.
The coach from Italy particularly highlighted Japan's ability to perform in critical moments, especially when star player Yuki Ishikawa served. Piazza concluded that the important takeaway is to determine whether only Ishikawa was special, or if the team could have played better.
Nevertheless, the silver medal was a testament to a strong campaign for Iran, and Piazza expressed pride in the overall performance of the squad throughout the tournament. He said: 'I am proud of my guys. I am truly proud of all of them.'
He reminded that in volleyball, one must demonstrate their abilities daily and with every ball, which is why he is very proud of his players.
The tournament also provided valuable experience for Iran, as the team continues to develop under Piazza's guidance. The coach believes that his players are starting to understand the tactical requirements, even if they cannot consistently execute these plans yet. Piazza noted: 'This is part of the special conditions of volleyball, and this is what we must learn. First of all, we must focus on ourselves, not on the opponent.'
He continued that the team has become more stable, and his feeling is that the players have begun to realize what they need to do, even if they cannot always achieve it. However, the first step is a clear understanding of what needs to be done. He added that sooner or later they will reach their goal because 'we came very close.'
In conclusion of his address, Piazza thanked the Iranian fans for their support throughout the competition. He said: 'I want to thank the people of Iran for their support.'