Head-to-head
· Brazil have won 16 of their 20 previous matches against France in the World League.
· Nevertheless, France won their most recent encounter with Brazil 3-1 in the Intercontinental Rounds in 2013, ending a four-match losing streak against the Brazilians.
· This match is a repeat of the 2006 World League final which Brazil won 3-2 (15-13 in the fifth set).
· Brazil and France also recently met in the semifinal of the 2014 world championships. Brazil beat France in five sets, winning the last one 15-12.
Brazil· Brazil have made it to the World League Final Round for the 17th season in a row. The last time they failed to reach this stage was in 1998 when they stranded in the play-off west-series.
· They are aiming to reach the World League final match (for WL win) for the 15th time. Their current number of 14 finals is already a competition record (nine wins, five losses).
· This year's Final Round will be played in Rio de Janeiro, meaning Brazil can become the first team to win the World League title on home soil since Netherlands in 1996 (Rotterdam).
· Only one of Brazil's nine World League titles so far was won in Brazil, as they claimed their first title in São Paulo in 1993.
· Brazil's last match was a 3-2 loss against Italy (3 July). They can lose back-to-back World League matches for the first time since the 2014 Intercontinental Rounds when they lost twice to Iran.
France· France are the only unbeaten team left in the 2015 World League (14 wins). This is also their longest ever winning streak in the competition.
· They have only lost five sets so far in 2015 and played just one five-setter: 3-2 win against Japan.
· They qualified for the Final Round by beating Argentina (semifinal) and Bulgaria (final) in straight sets last weekend.
· France are seeking their first World League silverware since 2006, when they lost 3-2 against Brazil in the gold medal match.
· France have conceded 499 sets and can become the sixth team to lose 500 sets in World League history. Opponents Brazil have lost 498 sets in World League history.