Men: Italy (ITA)

 

Coach: Vincenzo MALATINO

 

Key Players: Max PRANTNER (left wing), Davide NOTARANGELO (left wing)

 

Path to Buenos Aires 2018: 2017 Men’s U17 Beach Handball World Championship – Runners-up

 

The Italian younger age men’s beach handball team were formed back in February 2016 and later that year took bronze at the U16 Men’s EHF EURO Beach Handball Championship in Nazare, Portugal.

 

The young generation then followed that up with another medal the following year, when they came close to winning the first-ever 2017 IHF Men’s U17 Beach Handball World Championship but lost on a shoot-out to Spain in a heartbreaking final.

 

In Mauritius at that U17 World Championship, Italy won their preliminary group after 2:0 wins against New Zealand, Australia and Portugal and then took two further 2:0 victories, over Paraguay and Argentina in the main round before losing to Spain 2:0. Two more 2:0 wins, against Venezuela in the quarter-finals and Russia in the semi-finals, then took them through to the gold-medal match.

 

Earlier this year, the Italians finished sixth at the U18 Men’s EHF EURO Beach Handball Championship in Ulcinj, Montenegro. There, they beat hosts Montenegro, Switzerland and Italy in the preliminary round but lost to Croatia in the quarter-finals. They then won their first 5-8 placement match, against Hungary, but suffered their second competition defeat to Russia, in the 5/6 placement match.

 

“The team is cohesive, united and used to playing together for several years,” said coach Vincenzo Malatino. “I trust a lot in these guys; their strength and their desire to win. The international experience we have acquired over the years will be very important in Argentina and we want to be ready for this important occasion.

 

“It’s a great honour for us to be able to represent the Italian Federation and handball itself in such a prestigious event as the Youth Olympics, even more considering the historic moment of beach handball, in great ascent and projects towards the 2024 Olympic Games.”

 

Malatino has been coach of the men’s Italian senior team since 2007, overseeing all of their EHF EURO beach handball campaigns since then, starting with the 2007 edition in Misano, Italy. He is also experienced on the sand at club level with a 21-year career which has seen him win 11 national titles with Massa Marittima and Grosseto and six European Beach Tour (ebt) titles and knows with familiar teams in their preliminary group like Croatia and Portugal, as well as the hosts, it will be tough in Buenos Aires.

 

“Argentina are the home team and will undoubtedly be prepared to do well,” said Malatino. “Portugal is an opponent that we know well and, with the full team, will be able to put everyone in difficulty, while Croatia will aim for the podium.

 

“Paraguay and Mauritius on paper are easier to face, but the real value is only on the court. I think there are four teams, including us, that can aspire to move to the next round, but we must prepare ourselves to the best and play at to the best of our ability.”

 

To fine tune their preparation over the past few months, Italy ended with a training camp at home, in Marina di Grosseto (27 Sept – 1 Oct), which included friendly matches against the men’s 2018 Italian beach handball champions, Grosseto.

 

You can follow Italy on their official channels: website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube

Group at Buenos Aires 2018
Group B: Italy (ITA), Argentina (ARG), Portugal (POR), Paraguay (PAR), Mauritius (MRI), Croatia (CRO)

Preliminary Group B: Match Schedule
All times local

Monday 8 October

10:50    ITA vs PAR

15:20    MRI vs ITA

 

Tuesday 9 October

11:40    ITA vs CRO

16:10    POR vs ITA

 

Wednesday 10 October

10:50    ITA vs ARG