Nancy, France, July 2, 2016 - Brazil would book their ticket to the FIVB Volleyball World League 2016 Group 1 finals in Poland if they beat Belgium on Saturday in France.
Head-to-Head
• This will be the first ever meeting between Brazil and Belgium in the World League.
• These nations last clashed at a major international tournament in 1974, when Brazil beat Belgium in straight sets at the 1974 World Championships (classification round 7-12).
• Belgium last beat Brazil in a major competition in 1968, when they recorded a 3-1 win at the Olympic Games.
Brazil
• Brazil beat Poland in straight sets on Friday, with Wallace De Souza (14), Maurício Souza (11), Lucas Saatkamp (11) and Ricardo Lucarelli Santos De Souza (10) all scoring 10+ points.
• Brazil can win three consecutive World League matches by a 3-0 scoreline for the first time since 2011 when they beat Puerto Rico (twice) and Poland in straight sets.
• Brazil have won seven of their last eight World League matches, losing only to Serbia on 23 June in this span.
• Brazil have not played a World League five-setter since their 3-2 loss to Italy on 3 July 2015 (nine matches since).
Belgium
• Belgium lost 3-0 to France on Friday, with only Sam Deroo (15) scoring 10+ points.
• Belgium have only once before faced a CSV team at the World league. On 11 July 2015 they lost 3-2 to Argentina in the third place match in Group 2.
• Belgium have lost three of their last four World League matches, only beating Australia 3-0 in this span on 26 June.