Jiangmen, China, June 1, 2019 – Italy are seeking to win their match against Germany to avoid opening their campaign with two losses, while Iran are counting on their win-record against China in the FIVB Volleyball Nations League.
Italy – Germany (June 1, 2019)
Head-to-Head
• Italy have won each of their last five encounters with Germany in world level major tournaments since a 3-1 loss in the World League in 2003.
• World level major tournaments are: FIVB Volleyball Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
• These teams last met in a major tournament in the 2018 Volleyball Nations League, when Italy won 3-1 in the preliminary round. Ivan Zaytsev scored 20 points for Italy in that match.
Italy
• Italy lost their opening match of this year's Volleyball Nations League 3-1 against Iran. Last year they won each of their first three matches, including their opener against Germany (3-1).
• Italy could lose their opening two matches of a world level tournament for the first time since the 1988 Olympic Games when they lost against Brazil and Bulgaria.
• Italy could lose three successive matches in the VNL for the first time.
• Gabriele Nelli led his team in scoring in the 3-1 loss to Iran on 20 points. Nelli had 103 points in the 2018 VNL preliminary round.
Germany
• Germany started the 2019 Volleyball Nations with a 3-2 win against China. Last year they claimed their first win in the 2018 VNL also against China, in their fourth match of the tournament.
• Germany and China both scored 103 points in this year's 3-2 result, with Germany scoring 13 serve aces.
• Germany could now win their opening two matches of a world level tournament for the first time since the 2017 World League, when they won their first three matches.
• Five players reached double digits for Germany versus China - Moritz Reichert (12), Marcus Böhme (12), Linus Weber (11), David Sossenheimer (10) and Anton Brehme (10).
• For Linus Weber, his 11 points against China are already three more points than he registered in total in last year's preliminary round (8).
China – Iran (June 1, 2019)
Head-to-Head
• At last year's edition of the Nations League, Iran beat China 3-0 in the preliminary round. Iran's Amir Ghafour scored a match-high 18 points in that game.
• These teams met again a few months later at the 2018 Asian Games in August. Iran again defeated China in straight sets in the quarter-finals and went on to win the gold medal.
• At the 2011 Asian Championships, Iran beat China 3-1 in the final to claim the gold medal.
• Apart from their match at the 2018 Nations League, China and Iran have met one other time at a world level major tournament. At the 2011 World Cup, China beat Iran 3-0 in the third round.
• World level major tournaments are Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
China
• China lost their opening match in the 2019 Volleyball Nations League against Germany in similar fashion as they began last year versus Bulgaria - with a 3-2 defeat, including 15-11 in the fifth set.
• China scored as many points as Germany - both 103 - but they lost the match 3-2.
• China are now on a run of one win in their last 15 matches at world major level.
• China scored 15 points from stuffed blocks against Germany, with Libin Liu leading his team on four blocks. Liu had 12 blocks in the entire preliminary round of the 2018 VNL.
• Chuan Jiang was China's top scorer on 20 points versus Germany. Jiang was China's top scorer in the preliminary round last year on 274 points.
Iran
• Iran began this year's Volleyball Nations League with a 3-1 victory over Italy. Last year, they lost their opening match and won their second fixture.
• Including the 2018 VNL, Iran have won four successive matches in the competition for the first time.
• Iran can win five matches in a row in a World level major competition for the first time since five consecutive wins at the 2015 World League.
• Amir Ghafour was Iran's top scorer against Italy on 20 points, at least doubling all his teammates (Milad Ebadipour Ghara H., Purya Fayazi D. and Ali Shafiei are next on 9).
Quick links - Volleyball:
FIVB.com - Volleyball Nations League
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