Lausanne, Switzerland, July 7, 2017 - France take on Canada Friday in Curitiba for the second of the 2017 FIVB World League semifinals, eying their second appearance in a final of the competition after 2006 and 2015. By making the semifinals, meanwhile, Canada have already bettered their previous World League best of fifth place from 2013.
Head-to-Head• France have won four of their five World League matches against Canada, including this year's Group round match in straight sets on 17 June.
• Stephen Boyer scored 25 points of France's 75 in total in that 3-0 win. Stephen Timothy Maar was Canada's top scorer on 12 points.
• That match on 17 June 2017, was the first encounter between these two teams in the World League since four matches in 1991.
• Canada's only win was the last of these four ties in 1991, a 3-2 victory (15-13 in the final set).
France• France have won both their matches in this final round by a 3-2 scoreline.
• They can reach the final for the third time after 2006 (lost vs Brazil) and 2015 (won vs Serbia). In 2015, the finals were also in Brazil.
• Last year, France lost 3-1 against Brazil in the semifinal.
• France are hoping to win their fourth medal in the World League. They won gold in 2015, silver in 2006 and bronze in 2016.
• Stephen Boyer is top scorers in the 2017 finals on 40 points.
Canada• Canada are already sure of their best result in the World League as their previous best finish was a fifth place in 2013.
• Canada can reach the final for the first time in team history. The last team to make their World League final debut was Poland in 2012, when they beat United States 3-0 in the final in Sofia, Bulgaria.
• Canada are looking to become the third NORCECA team to claim a medal in the World League, after United States (G2-S1-B3) and Cuba (G1-S5-B3).
• Canada have a W6-L5 record in the 2017 World League.
• Canada's last eight matches alternated between wins and losses: L-W-L-W-L-W-L-W. If this streak continues they will lose this semifinal.