Izmir, Turkey, June 19, 2016 – Portugal and Slovakia will be looking to get their FIVB Volleyball World League campaigns up and running after two defeats each so far.
Head-to-Head
· This is the first ever meeting between these nations in any official competition.
· Portugal have lost their last six matches against fellow CEV sides. Their last win came against Netherlands (3-2).
· Slovakia have lost six of their seven matches against fellow CEV sides, only winning against Spain in 2014 (3-1).
Portugal
· Portugal are winless in their last six World League matches since their win against Netherlands last year. This was their only victory in the 2015 World League.
· Portugal won four of their first six matches in the 2014 World League.
· They lost their last match in straight sets against Netherlands. They have not lost back-to-back straight-set matches in the World League since 2012 when Germany and Bulgaria both won 3-0.
· Alexandre Ferreira is Portugal's leading scorer with 28 points.
Slovakia
· Slovakia lost their first two matches at the 2016 World League against Netherlands (3-1) and Turkey (3-0).
· They could start a World League campaign with three defeats for the first time.
· Slovakia have won six of their 18 World League matches so far.
· Peter Mlynarcik has scored 31 points so far this tournament, most of all Slovakian players.