USA vs Italy Prediction: The Italians will figure it out faster

There's a first time for everything. For the first time in three years, Team USA will face the true world and European champions. There is a feeling that this meeting will end differently than it did at the beginning of the tournament.

The Americans won the first two games against France in the quarterfinals without effort, and something happened to them. Tori Defalco suddenly became the team's weakest link in reception and attack, although, in the last set, he scored, blocked, and received without errors.

All in all, they had to play five games. Ultimately, they reached the next stage, although they lost to the French in blocks and aces. They could not catch up with their opponents only by their errors, although they were very keen to do so from the third set onwards.

After five realized attacks out of 15 by Palonski, three out of 13 by Visentin, and five out of 23 by Kukartsev - that's what Italy did. Argentina's two back-court and diagonal players scored 13 points on the offensive end in three games and gave up 11 to the Italians.

All in all, the world champions' defense and block performed at an extremely high level. Besides, it turned out that Defalco is psychologically unstable and can get frustrated and withdraw into himself in the face of such an opponent's defense. At the same time, Russell is not on the US team's roster.

The US team has been fortunate - the Italians won first the European and then the World Championship, while the Americans have never met Italy's champion squad. On Saturday, that will finally happen. According to the bookmakers, it will not end well for the US team.

In our opinion, it is highly doubtful that five sets will be played in this match. Most likely, the Italians will figure it out quicker.