Lausanne, Switzerland, June 10, 2017 - Italy and Russia come head-to-head in the FIVB World League for the first time since 2013 Sunday in Pau - but they did last meet at the 2015 FIVB World Cup, when Italy won in straight sets.
Head-to-Head• Italy and Russia have not met in the World League since 2013, when Russia won the last two of three World League meetings that year.
• These nations most recently met at world level on 21 September 2015, when Italy triumphed in straight sets at the 2015 World Cup.
• Russia have won six of their last seven meetings with Italy in the World League.
• Russia (incl. CIS and Soviet Union) have only lost more World League matches against Brazil (20) and Cuba (20) than against Italy (17).
• Italy's tally of 19 World League defeats against Russia (incl. CIS and Soviet Union) is their joint-most against a specific opponent in the competition. They are also on 19 World League defeats against Brazil.
• This fixture is a repeat of the 2000 World League final, when Italy claimed their eighth trophy after beating Russia 3-2 in the final.
Italy• Italy began their 2017 World League campaign with a straight-set victory against Iran, but have lost all four matches since.
• Italy could lose five consecutive World League matches for the first time since a run of six in a row in 2014.
• This is the first time Italy have lost four of their opening five matches of a World League campaign.
• Only two of Italy's last 19 World League matches has gone to a deciding set. Both of those ended in defeat against Serbia.
Russia• Russia began their 2017 World League campaign with a straight-set victory against Argentina, but have lost all four matches since.
• It is Russia's worst World League losing streak since losing their final match of the 2014 edition and their first 11 fixtures of the 2015 competition.
• Russia could lose consecutive World League matches in straight sets for the first time since 1997 (both against Cuba).
• Only three of Russia's last 27 World League matches have gone to a deciding set. They lost all three.