Italy Suffers First Curling Defeat to Germany at Milano Cortina

Team Italy's unbeaten run at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics has come to an end after a solid German performance in round robin play.

Joel Retornaz and his Italian curling squad suffered their first defeat of the tournament in their third round robin match against Germany at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The loss marks a turning point for the azzurri, who had opened the competition with two consecutive victories and were among the early leaders in the standings.

Germany delivered a disciplined and consistent performance to hand Italy their first setback of the Olympic curling tournament. The German team controlled key ends and capitalized on Italian mistakes to secure a crucial victory in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested round robin phase. The defeat serves as a reminder of the high level of competition at these home Olympics, where every match carries significant weight in the race for the medal rounds.

Retornaz Squad Faces Crucial Stretch

Despite the loss, Team Retornaz remains well-positioned in the standings with a 2-1 record through three matches. The Italian skip and his teammates have shown strong form in their opening games, and one defeat does not diminish their medal prospects. However, the remaining round robin matches will be critical as teams jockey for position in the playoff bracket.

The round robin format in Olympic curling is unforgiving, with each result potentially affecting seeding and qualification for the knockout stages. Italy will need to regroup quickly and refocus on executing their game plan in the matches ahead. The team's experience and home-ice advantage should serve them well as they navigate the challenging schedule.

Norway Next for the Azzurri

Team Italy will return to action on Sunday morning, February 15, when they face Norway in their fourth round robin encounter. The Norwegian squad represents another stern test for the azzurri, as Scandinavian teams traditionally excel in curling and will be highly motivated to secure a victory against the host nation.

The match against Norway will be an opportunity for Retornaz and his teammates to bounce back from the German defeat and reassert themselves as medal contenders. With home crowd support behind them, Italy will be looking to rediscover the form that carried them through their first two matches and build momentum heading into the crucial final stretch of round robin play.