The wave of blue shirts in arenas across Italy is something that goes beyond, far beyond, the heartbreak of losing to Finland in a tie-break. Italy went out in the quarter-finals of a home European Championship, but from south to north it brought an entire country together around a sport whose appeal is growing exponentially, both in the media and in economic terms. First Naples, then Modena, then Turin – and Milan would have followed had there been a Final Four. There was not an arena in which Giannelli and his teammates failed to draw supporters in, from the numbers in the stands to the less tangible signs of what was happening, which nevertheless add up to something enormous, something that matters. The television audience at home. The reaction on social media. And the players themselves, despite the disappointment on the court, never stopped feeling the support of a sporting public that has made volleyball one of its finest expressions – almost inevitably, when you consider the two consecutive World Championship triumphs and the golden era of the women’s national team unfolding at the same time.
From a media perspective, Italy made its biggest impact on television. On Rai2, the round-of-16 victory over Denmark drew a share of more than 13 per cent, with 2.23 million viewers and 5.7 million unique contacts, plus another 345,000 users on Sky Sport. That peak had been preceded by strong figures during the group stage, when audiences consistently ranged between 1.4 and 1.9 million viewers, with shares above 10 per cent even in prime time. From the match against Sweden to those against Greece, Czechia and Slovenia, the numbers remained consistently high.
The enthusiasm of the supporters found its natural home in the arenas across the peninsula, showing a passion for the national team that crossed geographical lines. The opening match against Sweden was a perfect example: in the unique setting of Naples, in Piazza del Plebiscito, the atmosphere around the game gave an extra lift to the spectacle already unfolding on court. The PalaPanini in Modena, a city that has long stood as one of Italian volleyball’s strongholds, gave the Azzurri a genuine home advantage throughout the matches played there – above all in the meeting with Slovenia for top spot in the group, decided in a tie-break. The PalaVela in Turin was sold out too, for both the round of 16 against Denmark and the quarter-final against Finland. The ending was not the one the Azzurri had hoped for, especially in front of such a warm crowd. But the energy, the noise and the passion of the supporters created an atmosphere that stayed with those who experienced the match alongside the players.
And so, the most important thing left behind by Euro 2026 is the feeling that the whole of Italy has fallen in love with volleyball. That it has fallen even more deeply in love with it than it already had. This sense of togetherness has created a team spirit that reaches beyond the team itself, something shared by everyone, including – perhaps above all – those who experience the matches away from the court. It is a feeling that tends to appear whenever a team begins a winning cycle, one might say, but in volleyball it carries even greater weight. The way the defeat to Finland was received showed just how deep the public’s attachment to the Italvolley has become, how firmly rooted it now is in Italian sporting life. And that is an enormous asset for everyone, including those who support the Azzurri, the FIPAV and their work.
Eni is part of that picture, the national sponsor of the European Championship for the matches played at the Italian venues. Its partnership with the federation is built around values such as team spirit, the pursuit of excellence and organic growth. The agreement runs through the 2026–2028 three-year period, so the journey has only just begun, but its potential is considerable. The atmosphere around the national team is only growing, becoming more alive, more charged. The interactive Fan Villages set up across the country have added to that energy, amplifying the Italvolley effect through online engagement. The federation has created dedicated spaces, including the special fan zone successfully opened in Piazza del Duomo in Milan on 21 September. It will remain open until the finals, even without Italy, not only as a place to watch the matches on giant screens, but also as a way of bringing the arena experience out among supporters and passers-by, encouraging those present to create and share social content around Italy and the other teams taking part in this European Championship.
It will stay with Italians not because of a medal, unfortunately, but because of everything that happened away from the court, an atmosphere that was unique, beautiful and shared by everyone. That is what happens when you fall in love.