(PRIMASPORT) ASUNCION – In the group stage of the 2026 Rink Hockey World Championship in Asuncion, Italy was defeated 4-0 by Portugal in their final qualifying match, finishing third in Group A with three points. The match was decided in the first half, with Portugal scoring four goals and the Azzurri missing a penalty. Italy will now face Argentina, the second-place team in Group B, in the quarterfinals, with a match scheduled for 4:45 PM.
Coach Bertolucci retained the starting five he had seen against Spain, but Portugal's first half, with goals from Rocha, Querido, Alves (penalty), and Nunes, made the match difficult. Despite a second half with some Italian offensive moves, the Portuguese team easily controlled the score until the end.
In Group A, Spain finished first, followed by Portugal, while in Group B France was first with 7 points and Argentina second with 5. The other quarter-finals will see Spain against Chile, Portugal against Angola and France against Switzerland.
The matches will be broadcast on Rai Sport and RaiPlay, with technical commentary by the national Under-19 team. The Italian Roller Sports Federation has made updates, photos, and streaming content available on its official channels. (PRIMASPORT)
