Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Women's Volleyball Nations League match.
Italy enter this fixture as reigning champions of both the Women’s Volleyball Nations League and the 2024 Olympic Games, underlining their status as one of the favourites to lift the trophy once again. For Germany, this clash represents another uphill battle against a world-class opponent, with little hope of producing a meaningful challenge.
Germany (women)
Currently placed 12th in the FIVB world rankings, Germany are not considered part of the sport’s top echelon. They failed to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games and managed only a 12th-place finish in the previous Women’s Volleyball Nations League campaign. Victories over lower-ranked teams such as Finland (41st), Switzerland (36th) and Bulgaria (20th) offer little indication of competitiveness at the highest level. Germany continue to struggle against elite opposition, having lost to China (0:3), Brazil (1:3), Poland (0:3) and Canada (0:3) in recent matches. A win in a friendly against an experimental squad does not suggest genuine progress. In this year’s Women’s Volleyball Nations League, they opened with a straight-sets win over South Korea, a team ranked just 35th globally.
Italy (women)
Italy currently lead the FIVB world rankings and have fully lived up to their top billing in 2024, capturing both the 2024 Olympic Games and the Women’s Volleyball Nations League titles. They’ve won 16 of their last 18 matches, with 12 of those victories coming in straight sets. Italy often start strong, taking the opening set in 16 of those 18 outings. With a deep roster, strong team cohesion and a well-drilled tactical system, they remain largely unchallenged by any team ranked outside the global top 10.
Germany (women) vs Italy (women) Prediction
The disparity in quality between these two squads is clear. Italy have defeated Germany in eight of their last nine encounters, including six victories without dropping a set. Germany have yet to show they can compete with top-tier opposition and are expected to fall 0:3 without serious resistance.
