Milan, Italy, September 22, 2018 – Co-hosts Italy are unbeaten so far in the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship with six victories, they are looking for their seventh win in the tournament when they face Russia on Saturday.
Head-to-Head
• This is the sixth meeting between Russia and Italy at the World Championship. Of the previous five meetings, Russia won the first two, including the 1978 final and Italy won the most recent three, with the latest meeting a 3-0 victory in 2006.
• Earlier this year at the Nations League, Russia defeated Italy 3-0.
• These countries also met in a final at the European Championship four times (both winning twice) and at the 2000 World League final (Italy 3-2 win).
• The overall head-to-head in world level major tournaments is 31 wins for Russia and 26 for Italy.
• World level major tournaments are Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
Russia
• After winning three and losing two matches in the first round at the 2018 World Championship, Russia started their second round with a straight-sets win over Netherlands.
• Each of Russia's four wins at the 2018 World Championship came in straight sets. In 2014, they claimed six wins by a 3-0 score.
• In Russia's last 13 World Championship matches, the winner of the first set eventually won the match.
• Four Russian players reached double figures against Netherlands: Dmitry Volkov (15), Maxim Mikhaylov (13), Egor Kliuka (11) and Ilyas Kurkaev (10).
Italy
• Co-hosts Italy have won all six of their 2018 World Championship matches, of which four in straight sets. The only other unbeaten team are United States.
• Italy could start a World Championship with seven straight wins for the third time, after 2010 (first 7) and 1998 (8). In 1998, they went on to win the tournament.
• They have won four matches in straight sets at the 2018 World Championship. The last time they had more straight-set wins at a single World Championship was in 1998 (8).
• Italy already have more wins at the 2018 World Championship than they had in 2014 (3). In 2010, they won the first seven before losing to Brazil in the semifinal.