Milan, Italy, September 26, 2010 - Day two of the FIVB Men's World Championship 2010 will take in 12 more exciting matches across six different Italian cities as the first round of Volleyball's premier event continues on Sunday.
A total of 24 teams have been split into six groups in the first round of this 15-day competition where teams from each group play each other once with the top three teams in each group advancing.
FIVB Men's World Championship 2010 official page
Pool A in Milan
After a sold out crowd of 11,500 on Saturday, FIVB Men’s World Championship 2010 organizers are expecting more of the same for two key games on Sunday.
Iran v Japan 5pm
Iran, who are competing in their fourth edition of the FIVB Men’s World Championship, are still looking for their first win since 1970. These two teams have met twice before with Japan winning both encounters including a 3-2 win at their last match at the 2009 Grand Champions Cup.
Egypt v Italy 9pm
The two form teams with this match likely to decide the pool winner. The home team have only lost to Egypt once in eight encounters.
Pool Ranking: Italy 2, Egypt 2, Iran 1, Japan 1
Pool B in Verona
Tunisia v Cuba 5pm
Cuba has never lost to Tunisia but the last of their five encounters was more than 10 years ago at the 1999 World Cup.
Brazil v Spain 9pm
Two time defending champions Brazil, who have still serious concerns for the well being of their setter Marlon who has symptoms of gastric flu, will be searching for their 15th successive victory in all FIVB tournaments when they take on Spain who surprised all with their competitive performance against Cuba on Saturday. The last time these two teams met was at the 2007 World Cup with Brazil running out winners in straight sets.
Pool Ranking: Brazil 2, Cuba 2, Spain 1, Tunisia 1
Pool C in Modena
Cameroon v Puerto Rico 5pm
An historic match with the first time these two teams have played each other in an FIVB event.
Russia v Australia 9pm
Australia will be looking to break their duck against the world No. 2 and the most successful team in Men’s World Championship history with they meet for the eighth time.
Pool Ranking: Russia 2, Puerto Rico 2, Australia 1, Cameroon 1
Pool D in Reggio Calabria
Argentina v Mexico 5pm
After Saturday’s impressive performance against USA, Mexico will be hoping to claim a major scalp in Argentina. The two teams have only met once before at the 1982 Men’s World Championship with Argentina running out winners in four sets
Venezuela v USA 9pm
The last time these two teams met was at the 2008 Olympic Games with USA triumphing 3-2 on their way to the gold medal. The overall record between the two teams stands at 9:1 in USA’s favour.
Pool Ranking: Argentina 2, USA 2, Mexico 1, Venezuela 1
Pool E in Turin
For the first time in recent memory, a player wearing a jersey in the 20s appeared on an official FIVB P-2 match statistical form. Bulgarian Konstantin Mitev, who wears jersey No. 20, was submitted as one of 12 players to suit up for his team's match versus China on Saturday. Although he did not get called upon to step on the court during the match, he holds the rare distinction of being the only player to take part in this year's FIVB Men's World Championship wearing the new No. 20 jersey. The FIVB expanded its preliminary rosters from 19 to 20 players at this year's event, allowing for the possibility of a No. 20 to enter a match.
Czech Republic v China 5pm
China will be looking to stop a run of nine defeats on the run when they face the Czech Republic for only the seventh time where history hasn’t also been favourable having won only once.
France v Bulgaria 9pm
The clash between the two victorious sides from day one promises to be a fascinating match with history favouring Bulgaria. In 32 encounters they have won 20 including the last match up as Bulgaria won 3-2 on their way to the 2006 Men’s World Championship bronze medal.
Pool Ranking: Bulgaria 2, France 2, Czech Republic 1, China 1
Pool F in Trieste
After a record-breaking attendance of more than 5'000 fans on day one, the PalaTrieste is expecting another bumper crowd on day two.
Canada v Serbia 5pm
These two teams also last met at the 2006 Men’s World Championship with Serbia winning in straight sets. With Serbia ranked 4th in the world and Canada 20th, Serbia are favoured to make it two wins from two in their World Championship campaign.
Poland v Germany 9pm
Another fascinating clash with two teams hard to separate. Germany won the 2010 World League battle by winning three out of the four Intercontinental Round contests after finishing ahead of Poland in the group but after yesterday’s impressive win over Canada and a head to head record in Poland’s favour with 14 wins from 24 games, the 2006 World Championship silver medalists will also like their chances.
Pool Ranking: Serbia 2, Poland 2, Canada 1, Germany 1
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