Lausanne, Switzerland, June 20, 2017 - Slovenia take on The Netherlands Saturday in Ausralia's Gold Coast to open semifinal action in the Final Four of the FIVB World League Group 2, as they seek to complete a stunning run from debutants in 2016, to winning Group 3 that year, to topping Group 2 pool play this season. It's the very first time the two sides come head-to-head in the World League, but they have met three times before in the European Championship with the Dutch leading that series 2-1.
Head-to-Head• Slovenia and Netherlands will meet for the first time in the World League.
• At the European Championship, these teams have met on three occasions. Netherlands won their first two encounters, 3-0 in 2001 and 3-1 in 2013, both in the group stage.
• Slovenia prevailed in 2015, a 3-0 win in a playoff for the quarterfinals. They eventually finished as runners-up to France in the competition.
• Slovenia's sole World League defeat against a fellow CEV team came against Greece on 26 June 2016 (3-1). They won their other seven encounters with European sides.
Slovenia• Slovenia won the Group 3 Final last year on their debut in the competition.
• Slovenia have won 15 of their previous 17 World League matches, only losing 3-1 to Greece (26 June 2016) and 3-2 to Japan (10 June 2017).
• Slovenia have won at least two sets in 16 of their 17 World League matches, including in each of their last 11.
• Slovenia have lost the opening set in only one of their 15 World League wins, 3-1 against Venezuela on 19 June 2016.
Netherlands• Netherlands have won their last six World League matches, their longest such streak since a run of 11 wins in 1996-1997. Part of that winning run led to their only World League victory in 1996.
• This will be Netherlands' 300th match in the World League. They are the fifth team to reach this number, after Brazil (441), Italy (424), Russia (404, including predecessors) and Cuba (374).
• Netherlands have won their last three World League matches in which they lost the opening set - 3-1 against Portugal, 3-2 versus Egypt and 3-1 against Czech Republic.
• Only Chuan Jiang (164) has scored more points in Group 2 than Wouter Ter Maat (151).