Piazza Reflects on Iran’s Painful Exit from Volleyball World Championship: “One Mistake Changed Everything”
Tehran - BORNA - Head coach Roberto Piazza, speaking to Volleyball World after the match, acknowledged both the promise of his young squad and the painful lessons learned.
“I think everyone in the team knew exactly the moment the match slipped away,” Piazza admitted. “We must grow a lot mentally. I knew this before, and I know it even more now. But it’s not enough—we also have to improve technically. We must be better in serving and in every department. The most important thing is to learn how to close out matches when we are ahead. That’s the lesson.”
Iran began confidently, taking the first set, and was leading 22–20 late in the second when a crucial unforced error shifted the momentum.
"We were one set up and had possession at 20–22,” Piazza recalled. “That mistake changed the flow of the entire game. To be honest, the Czechs played outstanding volleyball in defense and reception, and they deserved the win. But technically, that one error altered the whole competition for us.
Despite the disappointment, Piazza praised his squad, describing them as a “completely new team” brimming with raw talent.
“I am very proud of my players,” he said. “We are a brand-new team, and I knew from the start this would take time. It’s exciting because there is so much talent, but talent alone is not enough. We must work hard, put ourselves in tough situations like this, and be patient.”
Iran had opened their campaign with a hard-fought win over the Philippines, though Piazza noted the host nation was not among the world’s elite teams. The team’s highlight performance came against Serbia, where Iran delivered one of their best displays of the tournament. However, against the disciplined Czechs, consistency and mental resilience were lacking.
The Italian coach underscored the need for a cultural shift within the team.
“At times we focused too much on the opponent instead of ourselves,” he explained. “We want to completely change this mindset. We must keep our concentration on our own game, be bold, and improve every single day. That’s the key to the future of Iranian volleyball.”
While the loss marks a bitter end to Iran’s World Championship run, Piazza’s words suggest the foundations of a long-term project—one that demands patience, discipline, and resilience, with the ambition of making Iran a consistent force at the very top of world volleyball.
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