Lausanne, Switzerland, June 23, 2018 - Iran look to make it three out of three before their fans in Tehran on Sunday, following their wins over Korea and Bulgaria, when they take on Germany Sunday at the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League. It's only the fourth time the two sides go head-to-head, with Iran having beaten the Germans only once, at the 2013 FIVB World League.
Head-to-Head
• Iran have won one of their three matches against Germany at world level major tournaments, a 3-0 win at the World League in 2013.
• World level major competitions are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
• Germany's three wins came at the 1991 World Cup, and at the 2013 World League and 2014 World Championships, all in straight sets.
• Germany's 3-0 win against Iran at the 1991 World Cup was their first win at a major world level tournament since Germany's re-unification in 1990.
• All four encounters between these teams resulted in straight-set results.
Iran
• Iran beat Bulgaria 3-1 on Saturday, winning back-to-back VNL matches for the first time.
• Iran could win three successive major world level matches for the first time since a run of five at the 2015 World League.
• Iran can win seven matches at a single major world level tournament for the first time since the 2014 World Championships (7).
• Three of Iran's wins at the VNL came in straight sets. They could claim four wins by a 3-0 score at a major world tournament for the second time, after four straight-sets wins at the 2015 World League.
• Saman Faezi and Morteza Sharifi (both 16 points) shared top scorers honours for Iran against Bulgaria.
Germany
• Germany have won successive VNL matches for the second time.
• Germany could win eight matches at a single major world level tournament for the first time since nine victories at the 2014 World Championship (9).
• Noah Baxpoehler (11) and Simon Hirsch (10) both reached double figures in scoring versus Korea.
• Simon Hirsch (4) scored almost half of Germany's points from stuff blocks (10) against Korea.