Milan, Italy, September 21, 2018 – After four impressive wins in the first round, the Netherlands will now look to win their fifth straight match and break their losing streak to Russia in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.
Head-to-Head
• Netherlands and Russia have met three times before at the World Championship, with Russia winning all three matches, all in straight sets (in 1962, and twice in 1998).
• The last meeting between these nations at a world major level tournament was at the 2004 Olympic Games, when Netherlands won 3-2 in the group stage.
• World level major tournaments are Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
• They also met at the 2009 European Championship, where Russia won 3-2 in the group stage.
Netherlands
• Netherlands could win five World Championship matches in a row for the first time since 1998, when they won their opening seven matches.
• Netherlands are one shy of their 50th defeat at the World Championship. Their current balance is 55 wins and 49 defeats.
• Michael Parkinson has 14 stuff blocks this tournament, which is equal second-most behind only Belgian Simon Van De Voorde (21).
Russia
• Russia have won three matches and lost two at the 2018 World Championship.
• Each of Russia's three 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 12 World Championship matches, the winner of the first set eventually won the match.
• Egor Kliuka has a success percentage of 58% on his spikes, third-highest this tournament, behind only Italian Ivan Zaytsev (63%) and Australian Lincoln Alexander Williams (60%).