Ruse, Bulgaria, August 29, 2018 - France are seeking for their fourth consecutive win against China in their seventh encounter in the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship.
Head-to-Head
- France and China have met six times at the World Championship, with both teams winning three matches.
- France won both of their two most recent World Championship matches against China in straight sets, in 1986 (Montpellier) and 2010 (Turin).
- China's most recent World Championship win versus France was in straight sets in 1982 in Buenos Aires.
- The most recent world level major tournament match between France and China was on 3 June 2018 in the Nations League. The Chinese won in a deciding set with Chuan Jiang (37) the leading points scorer, amassing 20 points more than any other player and 28 points more than any of his teammates.
- The world level major tournaments are Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
France
- France will participate for the 16th time at the World Championship. They last failed to qualify for the tournament in 1998.
- France's best performance at a World Championship was third in 2002. They lost in a deciding set against Russia in the semifinal, but beat Yugoslavia in straight sets in the third-place play-off.
- France finished fourth at the 2014 World Championship. They were beaten by Brazil in a deciding set in the semifinal and lost in straight sets versus Germany in the third-place play-off.
- France lost in straight sets against Russia in the 2018 Nations League final. Their most recent title in a world level major tournament was winning the 2017 World League.
- Stéphen Boyer (75) and Earvin N'Gapeth (67) were the leading points scorers of the 2018 Nations League Final Round.
China
- China make their 14th appearance at a World Championship. Japan (15, including 2018) are the only AVC nation to participate in the tournament more times.
- China's best result at the World Championship is seventh, achieved in both 1978 and 1982.
- China finished 15th at the 2014 World Championship in Poland. They finished fourth in Pool C to progress to the second round, but were eliminated after finishing bottom of Pool F.
- China's final two matches at the 2014 World Championship were five-set victories against both Finland and Cuba. They could win three consecutive fixtures at the tournament for the first time since a run of five in a row from 1978 to 1982. That streak included a straight-set triumph versus France.
- China began the 2014 World Championship with a 3-1 win versus Egypt. They could win their opening match at consecutive editions of the tournament for the first time since 1978 to 1982. They started those World Championships with victories against Egypt (3-0) and France (3-0) respectively.