ITALY succeeded where they failed four years ago as they ended the London Games on a high by taking the bronze medal in men’s volleyball.
Mauro Berruto’s men gamely shrugged off the disappointment of their semi-final whitewash at the hands of Brazil to take third place - something they failed to do after a last-four defeat in Beijing.
They were helped on their way by a clearly jaded Bulgaria, whose approach to the Olympics appeared to have been an all-or-nothing one. Still smarting from their defeat to Russia on Friday, the Bulgarians were unable to find any rhythm and as a result were unable to send departing coach Nayden Naydenov off with a medal.
He is standing down after just seven weeks in charge, with