Milan, Italy, October 2, 2010 – Serbia and Mexico, and the Czech Republic and Cameroon will play against each other for the first time ever when the final day of the second round of the FIVB Men’s World Championship 2010 in Italy takes place on Saturday. With all six pools in action, the two teams to advance to the third round from five of the groups is still to be determined.

The top two out of three teams in each pool will advance to the third round, which will take place from October 4-6, before the semifinals from October 8-9 and the finals on October 9-10.

FIVB Men's World Championship 2010 official page

Pool I in Catania
Oct 2: Egypt (14) v Spain (37) 5pm
A must win match for Egypt, who have one win and three defeats to their name so far in the competition, if they are to keep their World Championship hopes alive. Spain, who have won all three encounters between the two nations in the past and have a 2:2 win:loss record in this competition, know victory will secure them a spot in the third round as the group winner after their 3-2 win over Russia on Friday.

Pool G in Catania
Oct 2: Italy (5) v Puerto Rico (17) 9pm
Hosts Italy have won all four of their matches, including Friday’s 3-1 win over Germany, so far in the FIVB Men’s World Championship 2010 and are also undefeated against Puerto Rico with the last of their three encounters concluding in a straight sets win at the 1974 Men’s World Championship. Puerto Rico have won two and lost two so far in the competition but must win this match to keep alive their campaign after losing to Germany in straight sets on Thursday.

Pool H in Milan
Oct 2: Serbia (4) v Mexico (26) 5pm
The first match in Milan on Saturday sees Serbia and Mexico meet for the first time ever. World ranking and tournament form – Serbia has won two and lost two, Mexico has one win from four games – has Serbia has strong favourites but with Mexico needing a victory to keep their hopes alive, anything could happen.

Pool M in Milan
Oct 2: Argentina (9) v Japan (12) 9pm
A fascinating clash in Pool M with another match to determine who progresses through to the third round. Argentina, who are 3-1 for this tournament, hold the historic advantage with 10 wins in 18 games against Japan but Japan, who are 1-3, have won the last four games including two 3-1 set wins at the 2006 World Championships with the last being a straight sets win at the 2007 World Cup. Having lost to France on Friday, Japan must win while Argentina already have a France win to their name.

Pool L in Ancona
Oct 2: Czech Republic (36) v Cameroon (21) 5pm
Another first time encounter for these two nations with two-time champions the Czech Republic taking on the success story of this World Championship Cameroon. After beating USA on Thursday and holding a 3-1 record for the tournament, the Czech Republic are favourites to win the game and the group however Cameroon have always punched above their weight and only narrowly lost, one of three out of four matches in the tournament, to USA on Friday. Victory would give them a serious chance of advancing to the next round.

Pool N in Ancona
Oct 2: Brazil (1) v Bulgaria (7) 9pm
With Poland having already lost two matches, Brazil and Bulgaria will play on Saturday for the right to be pool winner. Two-time defending champions Brazil will be favourite having won the last five matches between the two nations, including four matches in this year’s World League, and leading the overall record with 25 wins from 37 matches. Brazil also lead the World Championship ledger between the two nations having won eight of the 12 matches including the last five and eight of the last nine.

* Numbers in brackets () refer to world ranking

Standings
Pool G (Catania): Germany 3, Italy 2 Puerto Rico 1
Pool I  (Catania): Russia 3, Spain 2, Egypt 1
Pool H  (Milan): Cuba 3, Serbia 2, Mexico 1
Pool M  (Milan): France 3, Argentina 2, Japan 1
Pool L  (Ancona): USA 3, Czech Republic 2, Cameroon 1
Pool N (Ancona): Brazil 2, Bulgaria 2, Poland 2
Teams in bold already qualified for third round

Highest Scorers By Day
R1 Day 1: 28 points by Antonin Rouzier (FRA) in France’s 3-2 win over the Czech Republic in Turin
R1 Day 2: 27 points by Maxim Mikhaylov (RUS) in Russia’s 3-1 win over Australia in Modena
R1 Day 3: 28 points by Fernando Hernandez (CUB) in Cuba’s 3-2 win over Brazil in Verona
R2 Day 4: 24 points by Gyrgy Grozer (GER) in Germany’s 3-0 win over Puerto Rico in Catania
R2 Day 5: 30 points by Iban Perez (ESP) in Spain’s 3-2 win over Russia in Catania

Highest Set Score
34-32 (EGY v JPN  in Pool A) (CUB v BRA in Pool B) Both matches played on September 27.

Tournament Top Scorers
94 Jean Patrice Ndaki Mboulet (CMR)
93 Clayton Stanley (USA)
88 Antonin Rouzier (FRA)
87 Maxim Mikhaylov (RUS)
86 Gyrgy Grozer (GER)

Birthdays on October 2
Sebastian Schwarz (GER) turns 25
Ivan Zaytsev (ITA) turns 22

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