Italy men's national water polo team

Italy

Nickname(s)	Settebello
Association	Federazione Italiana Nuoto
Head coach	Alessandro Campagna
Captain	Stefano Tempesti
Olympic Games (team statistics)
Appearances	20 (first in 1920)
Best result	(1948, 1960, 1992)
World Championship
Appearances	16 (first in 1973)
Best result	(1978, 1994, 2011)
World Cup
Appearances	11 (first in 1979)
Best result	(1993)
World League
Appearances	7 (first in 2002)
Best result	2003
{{{Regional cup name}}}
Appearances	30 (first in 1927)
Best result	(1947, 1993, 1995)
{{{2ndRegional cup name}}}
Appearances	(first in 1955)
Best result	(1955, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1991, 1993)

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".

The Italian men's water polo team has won 8 Olympic medals, 6 World Championships, 5 World Cup, 11 European Championships medals and 3 World League medal, making them one of the most successful men's water polo teams in the world. They have won a combined six championships in those four competitions, with the World League being the only competition which Italy has yet to win.

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".

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 three World Championships, in 1978, 1994 and 2011,and the World Cup once in 1993. Italy also claimed their first European Championship in 1947.

Palmarès

Competition				Total
Olympic Games	3	2	3	8
World Championship	3	2	1	6
European Championship	3	2	6	11
Universiade	3	3	4	10
Mediterranean Games	6	6	2	14
Total	18	15	15	48

Results

Olympic Games

Year	Position
1920	11
1924	10
1928	Didn't participate
1932	Didn't participate
1936	Didn't participate
1948
1952
1956	4
1960
1964	4
1968	4
1972	8
1976
1980	8
1984	7
1988	7
1992
1996
2000	5
2004	8
2008	9
2012
2016

World Championship

• 1973 — 4th place
• 1975 — Bronze medal
• 1978 — Gold medal
• 1982 — 9th place
• 1986 — Silver medal
• 1991 — 6th place
• 1994 — Gold medal
• 1998 — 5th place
• 2001 — 4th place
• 2003 — Silver medal
• 2005 — 8th place
• 2007 — 5th place
• 2009 — 11th place
• 2011 — Gold medal
• 2013 — 4th place
• 2015 — 4th place

FINA World League

• 2002 — Semifinal round
• 2003 — Silver medal
• 2004 — 4th place
• 2005 — Semifinal round
• 2006 — Preliminary round
• 2007 — Preliminary round
• 2008 — 7th place
• 2009 — 5th place
• 2010 — Preliminary round
• 2011 — Silver medal
• 2012 — Bronze medal
• 2013 — Preliminary round
• 2014 — Preliminary round
• 2015 — 7th place

FINA World Cup

• 1979 — 6th place
• 1983 — Bronze medal
• 1985 — 5th place
• 1987 — 5th place
• 1989 — Silver medal
• 1993 — Gold medal
• 1995 — Silver medal
• 1997 — 5th place
• 1999 — Silver medal
• 2002 — 4th place
• 2006 — 5th place

External links

• Official website