Algeria
Chinese Taipei
Argentina
Brazil
China
Cuba
Dom. Rep.
Germany
Italy
Japan
Korea
Poland
Puerto Rico
Serbia
Thailand
Turkey
USAPress release
World Grand Prix set to begin exciting second weekend
Defending champions USA finished the opening weekend of the 2012 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix on top of the standings so will be hoping for more of the same in Brazil
Sao Bernardo, Brazil; Komaki, Japan; Foshan, China; and Belgrade, Serbia will welcome teams from across the world for the second round of preliminary action with teams still jostling for a place to the Finals, set to take place in Ningbo, China from June 27 to July 1.
Four teams finished the opening weekend unbeaten with USA leading China, Cuba and Brazil thanks to a superior set-ratio. The defending champions will be hoping to consolidate their lead further this weekend.
Pool E – Sao Bernardo, Brazil
Brazil and USA are both equal on points so both will be looking to surge ahead and stake an early claim at a place in the Finals. However, Germany also follow closely just three points behind and will be eyeing an upset or two to take control.
The 2011 FIVB World Cup winners Italy had a miserable opening weekend, losing two matches. They will want to improve their win-loss record and also gain revenge for their five-set loss to the Brazilians on the opening weekend.
Key facts
-Brazil may have the edge over rivals USA in all FIVB tournaments but it is the Americans who have the superior win-loss record with nine wins out of 15 matches
-Germany have just eight World Grand Prix wins in 39 matches against their pool opponents this weekend, although with two wins under their belt they may fancy their chances
-Italy are yet to lose to their European rivals Germany in the World Grand Prix, winning all five of their encounters
-USA are currently on a five-game win streak in the World Grand Prix with their last loss in the tournament coming in the pool stages of the 2011 Finals to Brazil
Pool F – Komaki, Japan
Thailand had a promising start to the tournament in Macau last weekend, picking up wins over Argentina and Puerto Rico to land themselves in sixth come Sunday evening. They will want to build on that strong foundation this weekend but will come up against Japan, who they have never fared well against, winning just one encounter out of eight in all FIVB tournaments.
However, the Japanese will be on the back foot after losing to both Turkey and Cuba in Korea. The world No.4 sit above both the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico in 11th, with the latter surely eyeing a scalp or two in Komaki to see them move further up the standings.
Key facts
-Despite their close proximity, geographically speaking, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic have never met in a World Grand Prix match, but the latter has the superior win-loss record in FIVB competitions, 2-1
-Japan have lost just three out of 20 matches to their pool rivals this weekend
-Puerto Rico have only ever secured one win over all three of their pool opponents this weekend, beating Thailand
Pool G – Foshan, China
The hosts sealed three wins on the opening weekend, dropping just two sets in front of their home fans in Macau. But they face three new opponents in Poland, Korea and Chinese Taipei, all of whom have a point to prove.
Poland sealed just one win in front of their home fans in Lodz and will be desperate to bounce back. Meanwhile, Korea and Chinese Taipei suffered three defeats and a first win will be in their sights.
Key facts
-China have played Chinese Taipei three times in all FIVB tournaments, winning all three encounters
-This weekend will be the first time Korea and Chinese Taipei meet in the World Grand Prix
-Poland have also never lost to Chinese Taipei in the World Grand Prix and have only ever lost to them once in FIVB competition
Pool H – Belgrade, Serbia
Cuba were one of four teams unbeaten in this year’s opening round so will want to keep their record intact when they travel to Belgrade at the weekend.
Hosts Serbia had at tough opening group but fought back from losses to Poland and Brazil to beat Italy in their final match of the weekend so will hope that winning spirit will have rubbed off. Turkey are one place above them and are currently denied a top six slot because of an inferior set ratio. They will want to remedy that.
Finally, Argentina are yet to get out of the blocks this year and are pointless, sitting in 15th.
Key facts
-Argentina have never beaten Serbia and Turkey in FIVB competition, losing one match to each of them
-Cuba and Serbia have never met in the World Grand Prix, with the former winning three out of their four FIVB matches
-Serbia have never played any of their opponents from this weekend’s group in the World Grand Prix
Head-to-Head
Pool E
|
World Grand Prix |
Overall |
|||||
|
BRA |
W |
L |
P |
W |
L |
P |
|
GER |
15 |
4 |
19 |
32 |
8 |
40 |
|
ITA |
15 |
4 |
19 |
21 |
7 |
28 |
|
USA |
6 |
9 |
15 |
21 |
18 |
39 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GER |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BRA |
4 |
15 |
19 |
8 |
32 |
40 |
|
ITA |
0 |
5 |
5 |
13 |
19 |
32 |
|
USA |
4 |
11 |
15 |
10 |
21 |
31 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ITA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BRA |
4 |
15 |
19 |
7 |
21 |
28 |
|
GER |
5 |
0 |
5 |
19 |
13 |
32 |
|
USA |
7 |
7 |
14 |
13 |
13 |
26 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
USA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BRA |
6 |
9 |
15 |
18 |
21 |
39 |
|
GER |
11 |
4 |
15 |
21 |
10 |
31 |
|
ITA |
7 |
7 |
14 |
13 |
13 |
26 |
Pool F
|
World Grand Prix |
Overall |
|||||
|
|
W |
L |
P |
W |
L |
P |
|
DOM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
JPN |
1 |
5 |
6 |
2 |
9 |
11 |
|
PUR |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
THA |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
JPN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DOM |
5 |
1 |
6 |
9 |
2 |
11 |
|
PUR |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
THA |
3 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
1 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PUR |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DOM |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
JPN |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
THA |
1 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DOM |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
|
JPN |
1 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
|
PUR |
3 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
Pool G
|
World Grand Prix |
Overall |
|||||
|
|
W |
L |
P |
W |
L |
P |
|
CHN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KOR |
8 |
3 |
11 |
24 |
8 |
32 |
|
POL |
8 |
2 |
10 |
14 |
5 |
19 |
|
TPE |
2 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KOR |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHN |
3 |
8 |
11 |
8 |
24 |
32 |
|
POL |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
8 |
12 |
|
TPE |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
POL |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHN |
2 |
8 |
10 |
5 |
14 |
19 |
|
KOR |
2 |
2 |
4 |
8 |
4 |
12 |
|
TPE |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TPE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHN |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
|
KOR |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
POL |
0 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Pool H
|
World Grand Prix |
Overall |
|||||
|
|
W |
L |
P |
W |
L |
P |
|
ARG |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CUB |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
SRB |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
TUR |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CUB |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARG |
1 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|
SRB |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
TUR |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SRB |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARG |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
CUB |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
|
TUR |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TUR |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARG |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
CUB |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
|
SRB |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
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