Lausanne, Switzerland, May 31, 2017 - It's the reigning world champions Poland against the reigning Olympic champions Brazil in a rematch of the 2014 FIVB World Championship final on Friday in Pesaro, to open the 2017 FIVB World League in style.
Head-to-Head• Brazil won their most recent major encounter with Poland, a straight-set win in the 2016 World League.
• Poland had won four of the previous five encounters, including the gold medal match at the 2014 World Championship.
• In the World League, Brazil have won five of their last seven meetings with Poland.
• At 217cm Poland's Bartlomiej Lemanski and Brazil's Renan are the tallest players in this year's World League competition.
Brazil• Brazil will make their 28th World League participation and join Italy as the only ever-presents in the competition that was installed in 1990.
• Brazil are the reigning Olympic champions and in search of their first World League crown since 2010.
• Brazil have won the World League on a record nine occasions.
• In 2016, Mauricio Souza's nine blocks in the match against France on 3 July were a season-high in the World League.
Poland• This is Poland's 20th participation in the World League. They will appear in the competition for the 20th season in a row.
• Winning the World League in 2012 still ranks as Poland's best performance in the competition. They have not finished in the top three since.
• Poland finished fifth in the World League last season.