The Italy 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 term for the seven of diamonds in the Italian card game scopa and a pun on a standard water polo team having seven players.
The Italian men's water polo team has won 8 Olympic medals, 7 World Championships, 5 World Cup, 11 European Championships medals and 3 World League medals, making them one of the most successful men's water polo teams in the world. They have won a combined twelve championships in those five competitions, with the World League, the last competition which Italy won in 2022.
History
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". History of Italian Water Polo
Although a domestic league was soon established, the Italy 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 Italy national side have also won four World Championships, in 1978, 1994, 2011 and 2019, and the World Cup once in 1993. Italy also claimed their first European Championship in 1947.
Competitive record Competition TotalOlympic Games3 2 3 8World Championship4 4 1 9World Cup 1 4 2 7World League 1 3 1 5European Championship3 2 7 12Europa Cup 0 0 1 1Universiade4 4 6 14Mediterranean Games6 6 2 14 Total 22 25 23 70
Results Olympic Games
YearPosition 1900did not participate 1904 1908 1912 1920 10th 2 0 0 2 1924 11th 1 0 0 1 1928 did not participate 1932 1936 1948 7 6 1 0 1952 8 6 0 2 1956 4th 6 3 0 3 1960 6 5 1 0 1964 4th 6 3 0 3 1968 4th 9 6 1 2 1972 6th 8 3 2 3 1976 8 4 3 1 1980 8th8 4 1 3 1984 7th7 4 2 1 1988 7th7 3 2 2 1992 7 5 2 0 1996 8 7 0 1 2000 5th 8 6 0 2 2004 8th 7 4 0 3 2008 9th 8 4 0 4 2012 8 5 1 2 2016 8 5 0 3 2020 7th 8 4 2 2 2024 7th 8 4 2 2Total22/28151911842
World Championship YearPosition 1973 4th 8 5 0 3 1975 8 4 2 2 1978 8 5 3 0 1982 9th 7 5 0 2 1986 7 5 0 2 1991 6th 7 4 0 3 1994 7 7 0 0 1998 5th 8 5 1 2 2001 4th 8 4 1 3 2003 6 5 0 1 2005 8th 7 2 0 5 2007 5th 7 5 0 2 2009 11th 6 2 0 4 2011 6 6 0 0 2013 4th 7 5 0 2 2015 4th 7 3 1 3 2017 6th 7 4 1 2 2019 6 6 0 0 2022 6 4 1 1 2023 5th 6 5 0 1 2024 7 5 2 0 2025 7th 6 3 1 2Total22/22153991341
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 2023 – Silver medal 2026 – Bronze medal
FINA World League
2002 – Semi-final round 2003 – Silver medal 2004 – 4th place 2005 – Semi-final 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 2016 – 4th place 2017 – Silver medal 2018 – Did not participate 2019 – Preliminary round 2020 – 4th place 2022 – Gold medal
European Championship
1927 – 12th place 1934 – 10th place 1938 – 5th place 1947 – Gold medal 1950 – 4th place 1954 – Bronze medal 1958 – 4th place 1962 – 8th place 1966 – 4th place 1970 – 4th place 1974 – 5th place 1977 – Bronze medal 1981 – 6th place 1983 – 7th place 1985 – 4th place 1987 – Bronze medal 1989 – Bronze medal 1991 – 4th place 1993 – Gold medal 1995 – Gold medal 1997 – 6th place 1999 – Bronze medal 2001 – Silver medal 2003 – 9th place 2006 – 5th place 2008 – 5th place 2010 – Silver medal 2012 – 4th place 2014 – Bronze medal 2016 – 6th place 2018 – 4th place 2020 – 6th place 2022 – 4th place 2024 – Bronze medal 2026 – 4th place
Europa Cup 2018 – Bronze medal
Mediterranean Games
1951 – Did not participate 1955 – Gold medal 1959 – Silver medal 1963 – Gold medal 1967 – Silver medal 1971 – Silver medal 1975 – Gold medal 1979 – Silver medal 1983 – Bronze medal 1987 – Gold medal 1991 – Gold medal 1993 – Gold medal 1997 – 4th place 2001 – Silver medal 2005 – Silver medal 2009 – Bronze medal 2013 – 4th place 2018 – 5th place 2022 – 4th place 2026 – Gold medal
Current squad Roster for the 2026 Men's European Water Polo Championship.
Head coach: Sandro Campagna
NameDate of birthPos.ClubMarco Del Lungo (C) RN SavonaFrancesco Cassia Pro ReccoJacopo Alesiani AN BresciaMario Del Basso AN BresciaFilippo Ferrero AN BresciaEdoardo Di Somma FTC-TelekomVincenzo Dolce AN BresciaTommaso Gianazza AN BresciaMatteo Iocchi Gratta Pro ReccoLorenzo Bruni RN SavonaFrancesco Condemi Pro ReccoAlessandro Carnesecchi CC OrtigiaFrancesco De Michelis Training Academy Olympic RomaAlessandro Balzarini AN BresciaMattia Antonucci Roma Vis Nova
See also Italy men's Olympic water polo team records and statistics Italy women's national water polo team List of Olympic champions in men's water polo List of men's Olympic water polo tournament records and statistics List of world champions in men's water polo
References
External links