Press release

Cristian Savani, Captain of Italy: We had to sweat to get this victory. I think we needed it - Australia were good at finding our weaknesses. We were able to find ourselves through suffering. I think this will be useful for the next matches.

On what happened in the first two sets, which they lost:
We were playing very nervously. Australia had nothing to lose. They challenged us mainly on the blocks at which they are as good as the Russians. We are happy because, the way the match was going, it could have finished 3-0.
 
On how they came back from 2-0 down:
With the heart and playing as a group.

On the match against Bulgaria on Monday 6 August:
The way the matches have gone so far, we're expecting it to be a battle. I hope Italy will play the way in which we finished this match.

Michal Lasko, Player of Italy:

On losing the first two sets:
This is what we are. We hide ourselves, but we are a great team. Now we have two options. Either blame ourselves or get into the court against anyone and fight. Australia in my opinion played with honour.
 
On how they secured victory:
Despair (laughs). We need to accept that we are not the swans that we were before. We need to fight in the mud until the end, until they kick us out (from the tournament). We are dangerous for the others, but also for ourselves. We are very happy, these two points help us gain the qualification (to the quarterfinals).
 
On how having secured qualification will affect their match against Bulgaria on Monday, 6 August:
The more we go on (in the pool), the better it is, but we have a different mind now.

Aden Tutton, Player of Australia: We lost two points at the end. We played better and better. This is really our level. We played one of the best teams in the world and it was amazing. We are very proud of ourselves.

On the next match against Poland on Monday 6 August:
We knew these two matches would be tough. We did our best today and we will try to do the same in the next one.

Luke Smith, Player of Australia: It was kind of restoring that belief after the crushing defeat against Bulgaria. It was about restoring that belief and coming out to play.
 
On his increased match time:
I was comfortable. I was in a good mental framework, but at the same time I don't think I've ever received any balls at the speed I had to today.
 
On competing against sides like Italy:
It has been an unbelievable journey. I wouldn't have thought I'd be here a couple of years ago.

Thomas Edgar, Player of Australia: We came out today with a big focus on having fun at playing volleyball.
 
On the upcoming match against Poland on Monday 6 August:
We're gonna do the same thing as we did today: go out there, have some fun and play some volleyball.