Reigning champions, high expectations, and the Italian Subbuteo World Cup Team
As the Eland Cables FISTF World Cup in England draws ever nearer, one team arrives in Tunbridge Wells with a greater weight of expectation than most. Steve Sharman spoke to Pietro Ielapi, (President of the Italian Table Football Sports Federation), Luca Colangelo (Open and Team), Eleonora Buttitta (Women’s Open and Team), and Francesco Manfredelli (U’16 Open and Team) of Team Italy, to better understand what it means to be a champion – and the pressure that brings.
From fearless gladiators whose legends were born in the heart of soaring amphitheatres to the modern-day warriors who forged histories of their own on the turf of the Stadio Olimpico, Rome has long been at the heart of Italy’s strong sporting heritage.
Away from the Italian capital’s vast stadiums past and present, an empire of a different kind is building. At the last World Cup, held in Rome (2022), the Italian squad was almost entirely dominant. Luca Colangelo and Eleonora Buttitta won the Open and Women’s categories respectively, whilst Gianfranco Calonico triumphed in the Veterans tournament. Eldorado Landi won the U’12 cup and Francesco Borgo took the U’16 trophy home, meaning Italy won five of the six individual titles available. The Italians were also victorious in the Open and U’19/20 Team competitions and were finalists in the Veterans, Women’s, and U’16 cups. An outstanding performance in a home tournament.
Thoughts of the President
However, with success comes a different kind of pressure. To be a reigning champion is to become a target to be aimed at, a scalp to be claimed. When the Italians touch down in Tunbridge Wells, they will be the team to beat. This fact is not lost on Pietro Ielapi, president of the Italian Table Football Sports Federation since 2020. When asked about his hopes and expectations for the World Cup in England, Ielapi knows others will be striving to beat his team, but he is still aiming high:
“We arrive at the World Cup in England with eight world titles to defend and also nine European titles won last year at the European Championships in Gibraltar. This means that we are the nation to beat, whoever plays against us will do so with the maximum possible commitment. The hope is to improve further. The ambition would be to win all the titles up for grabs, both individually and as a team.”
Ielapi is coming to the end of a four-year term as president and sees the possibility of winning World Cups in England as a crowning dream of his term and an incredible honour to do it at the home of Subbuteo. Ielapi is aware that, unlike some other competing nations, he has the luxury of a deep pool of talented players to choose from:
“We are fortunate to have numerous players in the various categories of great value and level. For the individuals, the choices were almost forced by the ranking and the victory of the national championships. So, the coaches of the various categories only had to integrate the members of the various teams with the players who, for them, are in better shape and capable of playing at these international levels.”
A successful event for a host nation in any sport, particularly one as prestigious as a World Cup, can have an enduring legacy. When asked about the lasting impact of hosting the 2022 World Cup in Italy and the success his squad achieved, Ielapi has no doubt that the event was a resounding success, in many ways:
“The World Cup in Rome was a turning point in all terms. In addition to having confirmed the value of our athletes, it allowed us, through refined marketing and media policy action, to have incredible visibility at a national level, especially with titles in all the main sports and non-sports newspapers, television services on the main Italian television channel such as RAI and also on sports ones, not least Eurosport. All this has had an increase in members.”
An increase in national association membership and the number of people engaging with the sport are important outcomes of hosting a successful tournament and are an impact the English Subbuteo Association will be keen to emulate. Although Ielapi may be equally concerned with an off-pitch legacy as on-table success, for the players, the immediate focus is often on the tournament ahead.
In Focus: Luca Colangelo (Open and Team)
For Luca Colangelo, who plays his Subutteo at the Fiamme Azzurre Roma Club, the aims are simple. Although ranked 17th in the world – the 5th highest ranked Italian – Colangelo comes into this World Cup as the reigning World Champion, having won the Open competition last time out in Rome. He qualified for this year’s World Cup by winning the Italian Individual Championships (for the fifth time in a row) and has his sights set firmly on retaining his World Cup trophy.
Although success is the target, winning in the right way is also of paramount importance to the Italian. When asked what he enjoys most about playing and what is he most excited about, his answer is revealing:
“Trying to always be at the top as a player and as a sportsman; having fun and winning in a fair and sporting way.”
Colangelo experiences great emotion when representing his country and understands that only a select few are lucky enough to experience this feeling. Despite his strong form – and his assertion that pressing and scoring goals are strengths of his game – he claims to only play in tournaments, with very little time given over to training or practice.
Whilst this may surprise some people, he shares an even more astounding fact; he has previously broken both a finger and his wrist on his dominant hand – the hand and fingers he flicks with – but has been able to continue to play to a phenomenal standard, despite the injuries. The reigning champion otherwise likes to hold his cards close to his chest; he has some superstitions but prefers to keep them to himself. Whatever the secret rituals may be, the Italian will be hoping his luck and skill persist enough for him to retain his trophy.
In Focus: Eleonora Buttitta (Women’s Open)
Another reigning Open World Champion to grace the tables in Tunbridge Wells is current Women’s title-holder Eleonora Buttitta, who plays at Subbuteo Club Bagheria on the Italian island of Sicily. Buttitta triumphed in Rome with a tense and hard-fought 1-0 victory over Margot Diradourian of France to claim the top Women’s prize, and was also a member of Italy Women’s team victory over Belgium in 2015, also on home soil.
Like compatriot Colangelo, Buttitta comes to England hoping to defend her world title and to be competitive in the team event. She is excited about the opportunity to test herself against other top-level women players, as opportunities for international women’s tournaments are not as frequent as she would like. She is, though, aware of the pressure that comes with success:
“(Representing Italy) is something that makes me very proud but also makes me feel a bit responsible. Italy is one of the most competitive national teams and expectations are always very high in all categories!”
Buttitta has been playing Subbuteo for about fifteen years, after clubmate Giuditta Lo Cascio introduced her to the sport. She is currently ranked sixth in the world and is the highest-ranked Italian female at this World Cup. Buttitta cites good ball possession and a decent defence as her main strengths but still sees room for improvement in her game, mainly in attack and particularly her shooting. She trains once per week and would like to train more, but work and family commitments restrict the time she can devote to her craft.
Beyond the technical side of playing, the Italian also enjoys the social opportunities offered by competing. However, the civilities are not extended when it’s time for action on the table; other players, compatriots, friends, and even her husband are not given any special treatment when Buttitta is in the zone:
“It (Subbuteo) is a game that I enjoy a lot, especially because there are a lot of tactics and it requires a lot of concentration. It is also very nice to participate in tournaments and meet up with other players on the circuit. But, when I play, even in training against Stefano (my teammate and husband), I put aside the relationship between husband and wife and try to win at all costs.”
It is perhaps this concentration and single-minded determination that allows Buttitta to retain focus throughout the challenges and battles faced in World Cup-level elite Subbuteo and, allied with her natural tactical awareness, keeps her competitive at the top of her field.
In Focus: Francesco Manfredelli (U’16)
Based at Eagles Napoli, reigning U’16 European Champion and current world number five in his age group, Francesco Manfredelli will be heading to England with the aim of making up for a degree of personal disappointment at the World Cup in Rome. Although recalling that tournament as a wonderful experience, the young Neapolitan reflects on his own performance:
“I played in the World Cup in 2022 in Rome. It was a wonderful experience to play the most important event of our movement at home. Unfortunately, individually I lost against the future champion Francesco Borgo in the round of 16 by 1 to 0. While as a team we reached the final, where we were defeated by Greece on goal difference by just one goal.”
Fresh from individual and team success at the European Championships, and buoyed by a high world ranking and a successful showing at the Italian Major in Bologna, Manfredelli is keen to push himself further in England and is aiming for another individual and team double.
Manfredelli considers his general attacking game as one of his strengths, with an emphasis on his shooting ability, and hopes to be able to improve his defensive work. A dedicated player, he believes training and practice are fundamental elements of the game and are crucial to success at a high level. Asked about his training schedule, he demonstrates his dedication:
“Before big events, I train almost every day, while in periods where there are no tournaments I play a couple of games a week with my father.”
The young Italian’s relationship with his father has been hugely influential in the development of his Subbuteo career, as has his relationship with teacher and mentor Italian Subbuteo legend Massimo Bolognino:
“My father passed on my passion for Subbuteo to me about six years ago, after seeing an article on the news where the international tournament in Naples was depicted and we immediately went to see it. We met the Maradona of Subbuteo and also my teacher: Massimo Bolognino, who introduced us to this splendid reality and also invited us to his Subbuteo school at the Eagles headquarters. From there it was love at first sight.”
The atmosphere at big events as well as the weight of expectation can increase the pressure to perform. Luckily, this is something Manfredelli thrives on. The attention of supporters can sharpen focus. The young man claims to play his best when there are many people around the table, the added pressure serving to motivate him to give it his all.
Despite the pressure he puts on himself and the expectation of high degrees of success from all within the Italian camp, Manfredelli is still excited about meeting people away from the tables. He highlights that one of the things he likes most about table football is travelling to participate in international tournaments around Europe and the friendships this allows him to forge.
Let Battle Commence
From the outside looking in, the Italian individual and team competitors are among the favourites in every category. Somewhat controversially, the limited number of players each country can enter in each category can mean that some very talented players miss out; for example, Matteo Ciccarelli – currently the highest-ranked Italian in the FISTF rankings – hasn’t qualified automatically, only as a reserve. Having a heavyweight like Ciccatelli waiting in the wings can place extra pressure on those who have been selected.
However, many members of the Italian team have previous experience of this pressure, have fought these battles, and have emerged victorious. Few would bet against them to do the same in England.
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