Lausanne, Switzerland, June 4, 2017 - Germany and Venezuela come head-to-head Sunday in Frankfurt for the first time in 43 years, after the South American side lost to East Germany 3-0 at the 1974 FIVB World Championship.
Head-to-Head• Venezuela have met German opposition once in a major competition.
• At the 1974 World Championship, East Germany defeated Venezuela in straight sets.
Germany• Germany have taken full points in their first two World League matches, beating Kazakhstan 3-0 on Friday and Austria 3-1 a day later.
• Germany have now won four of their last five and five of their last seven in the competition.
• For the first time since 2013, Germany could win three straight matches within a single World League campaign. Back then, they beat Cuba (twice) and Serbia consecutively.
• They have never started a World League season with three victories.
• Simon Hirsch was Germany’s top scorer on Friday with 19 points, Ruben Schott succeeded him with 17 points against Austria on Saturday.
Venezuela• On Saturday, Venezuela defeated Kazakhstan 3-1 to make amends for the match they forfeited 3-0 against Austria on Friday.
• Venezuela have won six of their last nine in the World League. Before their current run, they had collected only five victories in a series of 37 matches in the competition.
• Venezuela are looking to make this their third successive World League weekend in which they bow out with two victories and one defeat.