Lausanne, Switzerland, June 3, 2017 - Japan and Portugal meet for the 11th time in the FIVB World League on Saturday in Poprad, with Japan leading the series 6-4. They both come from opening day defeats to Slovakia and Australia respectively.
Head-to-Head• These teams have met 10 times in the World League, with Japan winning six times and Portugal four times.
• Their last two meetings took place in 2013, when Portugal won their first encounter 3-1 on 29 June but Japan came back with a 3-2 victory a day later on 30 June.
• Their first ever encounter came in the Olympic Qualification Tournament in July 2000 in Portugal, with Japan winning in straight sets. Both teams failed to qualify for the 2000 Olympic Games.
Japan• Japan lost their opener against Slovakia on Friday: 3-0. In 2015 and 2016, they had won their opening match.
• Japan's last win in the World League was a straight sets affair against Korea, eight matches ago.
• Japan will look to avoid a third consecutive 3-0 defeat. Such a streak has not occurred for Japan since June 2012.
• Masahiro Yanagida was Japan's top scorer against Slovakia with 17 points, including 16 of 21 spike attempts.
Portugal• Despite scoring 106 points, Portugal were on the wrong end of a 3-2 result against Australia on Friday.
• Portugal have now lost four of their last five and seven of their last nine World League matches that went to five sets.
• Two Portuguese players tallied double-digit points against Australia: Alexandre Ferreira (24) and his brother Marco Ferreira (20).