Lausanne, Switzerland, July 5, 2017 - Brazil need just one set when they host Russia Thursday at Curitiba to secure a ticket to the semifinals of the 2017 FIVB World League. Canada, from this pool, have already claimed one of the two berths after sweeping Russia in straight sets Wednesday. Russia can only go through on a 3-0 win. In the 2013 Final Six, Russia were also in the same pool with Canada and Brazil - lost to the North Americans, beat the South Americans and went on to claim the title. Brazil, on the other hand are hosting the World League finals for the sixth time, but only once, back in 1993 at the Ibirapuera, did they manage to capitalise on home advantage.
Head-to-Head• Brazil and Russia will meet for the 34th time in the World League. Brazil won 20 of their previous meetings, but only one of their last five.
• Their last World League meeting came back on 17 July 2014, when Brazil won 3-1.
• Brazil and Russia also met in the semifinals of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The hosts won in straight sets and went on to win the gold medal.
Brazil• Brazil won their first Final Six match of this season's World League, 3-1 against Canada.
• Brazil have not won the competition since 2010. Since, they have finished as runners-up on four occasions and claimed one fifth and one sixth place.
• Of Brazil's last nine World League losses, eight came against CEV opposition.
• Only four of Brazil's last 30 World League matches have gone to a deciding fifth set.
• Brazil have only once failed to win a set in their last 47 World League matches, in the 3-0 defeat to Serbia in last year's final.
• Wallace De Souza was Brazil's top scorer against Canada with 18 points.
Russia• Russia lost their first Final Six match 3-0 against Canada, ending a winning run of four matches.
• They could lose consecutive World League matches for the first time since a run of four earlier this tournament (3 to 10 June).
• Russia could suffer two successive World League straight set defeats for the first time since 1997, when Cuba won twice by 3-0.
• Russia have claimed at least one set in eight of their ten matches this campaign, only failing to do so against United States on 10 June and against Canada on Wednesday.
• They could reach the World League semifinals for the first time since 2013, when they were also in a pool with Brazil and Canada and went on to lift the trophy. In that group, they lost versus Canada but defeated Brazil to progress to the next round.
• Egor Kliuka was the only Russian player to reach double figures in scoring against Canada as he netted 11 times.