Italy men's national water polo team

Last updated

Italy
Flag of Italy.svg
FINA code ITA
Nickname(s)Il Settebello
Association Italian Swimming Federation
Confederation LEN (Europe)
Head coach Sandro Campagna
Asst coach Christian Presciutti
Captain Francesco Di Fulvio
FINA ranking (since 2008)
Current8 (as of 9 August 2021)
Highest2 (2012, 2016)
Lowest9 (2008, 2009, 2010)
Olympic Games  (team statistics)
Appearances 22 (first in 1920 )
Best resultGold medal icon.svg (1948, 1960, 1992)
World Championship
Appearances22 (first in 1973 )
Best resultGold medal icon.svg (1978, 1994, 2011, 2019)
World Cup
Appearances12 (first in 1979 )
Best resultGold medal icon.svg (1993)
World League
Appearances19 (first in 2002 )
Best resultGold medal icon.svg (2022)
European Championship
Appearances33 (first in 1927 )
Best resultGold medal icon.svg (1947, 1993, 1995)
Europa Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2018)
Best resultBronze medal icon.svg (2018)
Mediterranean Games
Appearances17 (first in 1955 )
Best resultGold medal icon.svg (1955, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1991, 1993)
Media
Website federnuoto.it

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" (lit.'Nice Seven'), 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.

Contents

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

The Italian water polo team, of the early 1950s Italian waterpolo team circa 1950.jpg
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". [1]

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

CompetitionGold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgTotal
Olympic Games 3238
World Championship 4419
World Cup 1416
World League 1315
European Championship 32712
Europa Cup 0011
Universiade 44614
Mediterranean Games 66214
Total22252269

Results

Olympic Games

Year [2] PositionPldWDL
Flag of France.svg 1900 did not participate
Flag of the United States (1896-1908).svg 1904
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 1908
Flag of Sweden.svg 1912
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg 1920 10th2002
Flag of France.svg 1924 11th1001
Flag of the Netherlands.svg 1928 did not participate
Flag of the United States.svg 1932
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg 1936
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 1948 Gold medal icon.svg7610
Flag of Finland.svg 1952 Bronze medal icon.svg8602
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1956 4th6303
Flag of Italy.svg 1960 Gold medal icon.svg6510
Flag of Japan.svg 1964 4th6303
Flag of Mexico.svg 1968 4th9612
Flag of Germany.svg 1972 6th8323
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 1976 Silver medal icon.svg8431
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg 1980 8th8413
Flag of the United States.svg 1984 7th7421
Flag of South Korea.svg 1988 7th7322
Flag of Spain.svg 1992 Gold medal icon.svg7520
Flag of the United States.svg 1996 Bronze medal icon.svg8701
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2000 5th8602
Flag of Greece.svg 2004 8th7403
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 2008 9th8404
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 2012 Silver medal icon.svg8512
Flag of Brazil.svg 2016 Bronze medal icon.svg8503
Flag of Japan.svg 2020 7th8422
Flag of France.svg 2024 7th8422
Total22/28151911842

World Championship

YearPositionPldWDL
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg 1973 4th8503
Flag of Colombia.svg 1975 Bronze medal icon.svg8422
Flag of Germany.svg 1978 Gold medal icon.svg8530
Flag of Ecuador.svg 1982 9th7502
Flag of Spain.svg 1986 Silver medal icon.svg7502
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1991 6th7403
Flag of Italy.svg 1994 Gold medal icon.svg7700
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1998 5th8512
Flag of Japan.svg 2001 4th8413
Flag of Spain.svg 2003 Silver medal icon.svg6501
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 2005 8th7205
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2007 5th7502
Flag of Italy.svg 2009 11th6204
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 2011 Gold medal icon.svg6600
Flag of Spain.svg 2013 4th7502
Flag of Russia.svg 2015 4th7313
Flag of Hungary.svg 2017 6th7412
Flag of South Korea.svg 2019 Gold medal icon.svg6600
Flag of Hungary.svg 2022 Silver medal icon.svg6411
Flag of Japan.svg 2023 5th6501
Flag of Qatar.svg 2024 Silver medal icon.svg7520
Flag of Singapore.svg 2025 7th6312
Total22/22153991341

FINA World Cup

FINA World League

  • 2002 – Semi-final round [2]
  • 2003Silver medal icon.svg Silver medal
  • 2004 – 4th place
  • 2005 – Semi-final round
  • 2006 – Preliminary round
  • 2007 – Preliminary round
  • 2008 – 7th place
  • 2009 – 5th place
  • 2010 – Preliminary round
  • 2011Silver medal icon.svg Silver medal
  • 2012Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze medal
  • 2013 – Preliminary round
  • 2014 – Preliminary round
  • 2015 – 7th place
  • 2016 – 4th place
  • 2017Silver medal icon.svg Silver medal
  • 2018Did not participate
  • 2019 – Preliminary round
  • 2020 – 4th place
  • 2022Gold medal icon.svg Gold medal

European Championship

Europa Cup

Mediterranean Games

  • 1951Did not participate
  • 1955Gold medal icon.svg Gold medal
  • 1959Silver medal icon.svg Silver medal
  • 1963Gold medal icon.svg Gold medal
  • 1967Silver medal icon.svg Silver medal
  • 1971Silver medal icon.svg Silver medal
  • 1975Gold medal icon.svg Gold medal
  • 1979Silver medal icon.svg Silver medal
  • 1983Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze medal
  • 1987Gold medal icon.svg Gold medal
  • 1991Gold medal icon.svg Gold medal
  • 1993Gold medal icon.svg Gold medal
  • 1997 – 4th place
  • 2001Silver medal icon.svg Silver medal
  • 2005Silver medal icon.svg Silver medal
  • 2009Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze medal
  • 2013 – 4th place
  • 2018 – 5th place
  • 2022 – 4th place

Current squad

Roster for the 2025 World Championships. [3] [4]

Head coach: Sandro Campagna

See also

References

  1. "FEDERAZIONE – Federazione Italiana Nuoto". Archived from the original on 5 January 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2013. History of Italian Water Polo
  2. 1 2 3 "HistoFINA – Water polo medalists and statistics" (PDF). fina.org. FINA. September 2019. pp. 4, 14, 25, 40, 48. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  3. "Men's Water Polo Team Roster ITA" (PDF). Omega Timing. 12 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  4. "Men's Water Polo Team Roster ITA (2)" (PDF). Omega Timing. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.