Ruse, Bulgaria, September 18, 2018 - Canada (3-1) and France (2-2) are both qualified to the next round of the 2018 FIVB World Championship, though the North Americans will be seeking a win that could see them top the final standings of Pool B. The two teams meet for the first time in the history of the competition, whith France having won both previous encounters, in 1978 and 1990.
Head-to-Head
• France won both previous World Championship matches against Canada - 3-0 in Venice in 1978 and 3-1 in Brasília in 1990.
• Canada have won only two of their 12 world level major tournament matches against France, 3-2 in the 1991 World League and 3-0 in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.
• The world level major tournaments are Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
• The most recent world level major tournament match between Canada and France was on 17 June 2018 in the Nations League. The French won in a deciding set in Varna.
Canada
• Canada started their 2018 World Championship campaign with three victories, before Brazil proved too strong on Monday (3-1).
• In 2014, Canada won four of their five first round matches.
• Canada could lose back-to-back matches for the first time since defeats in their last two matches in 2014.
• Canada's tournament top scorer is John Gordon Perrin on 69 points.
• Steven Marshall has recorded 41 digs, almost three per set on average (2.93).
France
• France have won two and lost two matches in their 2018 World Championship campaign so far.
• Including the bronze medal match in 2014, losses and wins have alternated in the last five matches for France (L-W-L-W-L). According to this run, France should win the match versus Canada.
• In 2014, when France finished fourth, they won four of their five matches in the first round, with a 3-2 against Italy as their only defeat.
• Stephen Boyer is France's top scorer this tournament on 59 total points.