Lausanne, Switzerland, June 12, 2018 - After wrapping up Week 3 with a 3-2 win over Italy, Japan look to score back-to-back wins for the first time in the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League when they meet Germany in Ludwigsburg Friday in Week 4. Last time the two sides met was four years ago at the 2014 FIVB World League, with Japan prevailing in five sets.
Head-to-Head
• Japan won their most recent world level major competition match against Germany, beating the Germans 3-2M on 29 June 2014 at the World League.
• World level major competitions are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
• That victory by Japan at the 2014 World League ended a run of five defeats against Germany at world level major competitions.
• At the Munich 1972 Olympic Games, Japan beat East Germany 3-1 in the final to win the gold medal.
Germany
• Germany won three of their last four VNL matches, but lost their most recent match against Australia on 10 June.
• Germany have now won four matches this VNL season and have lost five.
• At their last two world level major competitions, Germany won three (2016 World League) and six (2017 World League) matches respectively.
• At world level major competitions, Germany have not won a five-setter since their 3-2 victory over Argentina at the 2014 World League.
Japan
• Japan won their most recent match, the 3-2 victory over Italy on 10 June.
• Japan can now win successive VNL matches for the first time.
• The last time Japan won successive matches at a world level major competition was at the 2017 World League, when they beat Australia, Turkey, Slovenia and Korea all in a row.
• Just like forthcoming opponents Germany, Japan have a W4-L5 balance at the 2018 VNL so far.