Lausanne, Switzerlans, June 1, 2018 - Germany and France meet Saturday in Lodz for the first time at world level since the Germans scored a straight-set win to claim the bronze medal of the 2014 FIVB World Championship in Katowice. This time around, for the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League, France look to bounce back from their heavy loss to Poland on Friday, while Germany come from their first VNL win in the competition over China.
Head-to-Head
• These teams played nine world level major competition encounters, with France winning five and Germany (including East Germany and West Germany) four. Six of those nine ended in straight sets (4 to 2 in France's favour).
• World level major competitions are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
• The last world level major competition match between these teams came in the 2014 World Championship bronze medal match, which Germany won 3-0.
• Germany could now beat France in back-to-back world level major competition matches for the first time ever.
• France's last win against Germany was in straight sets in the third round of the 2014 World Championship.
Germany
• Germany won in four sets against China to record their first VNL win.
• The last time Germany won consecutive matches in world level major competitions came almost a year ago when Spain and Mexico were both defeated in straight sets on 10 and 11 June 2017 in the World League.
• None of Germany's last 19 matches at world level major tournaments became a five-setter, since their 3-2 loss to Montenegro on 17 June 2016 in the World League.
• Christian Fromm scored a team high 19 points for Germany in their first ever VNL victory.
France
• France suffered a straight set defeat against Poland after losing only two sets in their first three Nations League matches.
• The last time France recorded consecutive straight set defeats in major world level competitions came in 2013 in the World League against Bulgaria and United States.
• France could win their 250th world level major competition match in history. They have 249 wins and 229 defeats thus far.