The road to Italian Bowl XLV runs through Florence, and for the Ancona Dolphins it could hardly be a tougher assignment. The Firenze Guelfi enter Saturday’s IFL semifinal not only as the defending Italian champions, but as the unbeaten No. 1 seed, riding a 20-game winning streak in domestic competition and averaging nearly 47 points per game behind one of the most explosive no-huddle offenses Italy has seen in recent years.
This is also a rematch of the 2025 Italian Bowl, giving the game an obvious revenge angle for Ancona. Firenze’s attack has been built around a wide group of playmakers, with Andrea Fimiani, Cosimo Casati, Giacomo Mibelli, Frankie Stola and Eystin Salum all highlighted among the key pieces in an offense that has overwhelmed opponents all season. Just as important, the Guelfi defense has been strong enough to keep games from becoming shootouts, allowing the offense to play with tempo and pressure from the front.
Watch live PPV. Ancona Dolphins @ Firenze Guelfi, June 20, 16:00 CET (4 pm, 10 am ET)
Dolphins finding form at the right time
The Dolphins, however, arrive in Florence with real momentum. Their 45-31 Wild Card win over the Frogs Legnano was not just a playoff survival act, but a reminder that Ancona’s offense has reached its best shape at the right time. Carter Cravens’ return to full health has allowed Cameren Grodhaus to settle back into his natural offensive playmaking role, while Giovanni Zani and Raffaele Rotelli both emerged as major factors in the win over Legnano.
Against the Frogs, Ancona showed balance and resilience. Cravens opened the scoring with a rushing touchdown, Zani added touchdowns through the air, Rotelli scored on the ground, and Grodhaus struck twice in the second half as the Dolphins answered every Legnano push before sealing the game with a late field goal and recovered fumble.
Keys to the matchup
The key question is whether the Dolphins can turn that momentum into enough possessions against Firenze. If Ancona can control tempo, avoid early mistakes and keep Cravens, Grodhaus, Zani and Rotelli involved, they have the weapons to make the champions uncomfortable. But if the Guelfi offense gets rolling early, Ancona may find itself chasing the most complete team in the league.
What to watch
Dolphins defensive leader Marco Fiorini and the Ancona front must find ways to disrupt Firenze’s rhythm. The Guelfi thrive when they dictate tempo. The Dolphins’ best chance is to make the game messy, shorten possessions and force the champions to earn every yard.
AFI prediction angle
Guelfi are the clear favorites, but Dolphins are healthier, hotter and more dangerous than their seeding suggests. Firenze should advance if they play clean football, but Ancona has enough offensive answers to make this more than a formality.