Bolzano's fistball players: Disappointment will turn into pride

They gave it their all on Sunday in the midday heat in Altenburg in the small final against Switzerland. In the end it was 1:4 – 7th place at a European Championship for the 4th time in a row. Although the hosts had played their best game in these title fights and could have at least taken one more set from the Swiss.

Coach Jörg Ramel: “It's understandable that disappointment prevails so soon after the game, but if we let it all sink in a bit, then we'll realize that we played a really good game. We didn't give anything away. They were just a little smarter in the end.” The hunt for precious metals The generation around batsman Armin Runer, captain Simon Prudenziati, Christian Scartezzini, Florian Runer and Thomas Meran has been chasing a medal at a major event for years. It should work at the home European Championship, which was delayed by two years. With the win in the quarter-finals on Saturday morning against Denmark, the minimum goal of 2th place was achieved. Against Germany in the semi-finals, the “Azzurri” led 4:3 in the third set on Saturday afternoon, but lost 8:5.

Batsman Armin Runer in action. © Franz Spiess

Things got off to a good start on Sunday. Both teams fought for every ball. A Swiss serve went out. Italy won set 1 11:9. The second round was a clear affair for the Swiss (2:3). If Italy had won set 11, it might have been a really exciting win. But after the 3:11 and the 9:2 set lead, the Swiss batsman Raphael Schlattinger showed his class and made the difference. Switzerland took bronze, and as always since 1, the people of Bolzano took fourth place. The disappointment still prevails “We promised to do everything we could. That's what we did today. Because it was only enough to win one set, the joy is limited at the moment,” said captain Prudenziati immediately after the end of the game. “We played with heart, but again it wasn’t enough. Still, I can’t blame our players.” “The Swiss have their options for changing. We don’t have that in Bolzano yet.” Batsman Armin Runer Batsman Armin Runer saw it similarly: “It was a great setting here in Kaltern. We played along, it was close, we were fully into it. At the beginning the disappointment predominates. We won the 1st set and didn't manage to maintain this performance over the following sets. The third round was close. We are missing the 3 points. The Swiss have their options for changing. We don't have them in Bolzano yet. But it was a sensational event and I hope that non-fistball players from South Tyrol also noticed.” Generational change is postponed For the Bolzano team, the only fistball club in Italy, the next big highlight awaits in just 4 weeks. The World Games in Birmingham in the USA from July 7th to 17th.

The veterans will appear together again. And the generational change could be postponed again. Only Thomas Meran (34) will probably end his career at the end of the season. Christian Scartezzini will probably stick around for another season and captain Prudenziati isn't thinking about quitting yet either. “I’ll definitely play until the 2023 World Cup because I just enjoy it too much,” says batsman Armin Runer.

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

Bolzano's fistball players: Disappointment will turn into pride

The disappointment was understandable on the faces of the fistball players from SSV Bozen, who are identical to the Italian national team. At the home game in Kaltern they also remained without the longed-for medal and extended their European Championship subscription to 4th place.

Suggestions

Comments (0)