Lausanne, Switzerland, June 23, 2018 - The top two teams in the table, Russia and France, clash Sunday in Modena at the close of pool play in the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League, mostly for bragging rights as both are qualified to the Final Six. France have won their last three matches against Russia at world level.
Head-to-Head
• France are on a three-match winning streak against Russia at world level matches, all in the World League (2016-2017).
• World level major competitions are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
• France had won five world level matches in total against Russia before this winning run of three.
• From 1949 to 1990, Soviet Union had won the first eight world level encounters with France. Russia lost the next match 3-1 in the 2000 World League.
France
• France's winning run of seven matches at the VNL ended with a 3-0 defeat against Italy on Saturday.
• France could now lose consecutive VNL matches for the first time.
• The last time France suffered consecutive straight-set defeats in a world level major tournament was in the 2013 World League.
• France have won 11 matches at this VNL. The only world level major tournaments in which they won more matches were the 2017 World League (12) and the 2015 World League (17).
• Stephen Boyer (11 points) was France's top scorer in the 3-0 defeat against Italy.
Russia
• Russia have won their last seven VNL matches since a 3-1 defeat against Brazil on 8 June.
• The last time Russia won eight consecutive matches in a world level major tournament was at the 2014 World Championship (eight-match run).
• Six of those seven VNL victories came in straight sets, including each of the last five. Russia can win six successive matches in 3-0 at a world level major tournament for the first time since the 2011 World League (6).
• In total, Russia have claimed nine straight-set victories in the VNL, equal to their record for most 3-0 victories in a single world level major tournament (2011 World League).
• Russia scored 13 points from aces in the 3-0 win over USA on Saturday, including six points by Igor Philippov.