Semifinals: United States - Serbia (18 July)
Head-to-head
· United States and Serbia (incl. Serbia & Montenegro and Yugoslavia) have met 12 times in the World League. United States have won on five occasions, Serbia on seven.
· They met each other four times in the 2014 Intercontinental Rounds. United States won three matches, Serbia one.
· This match is a replay of the 2008 World League final which United States won 3-1.
United States
· United States beat France 3-1 on Friday: 25-21, 25-22, 24-26 and 25-20. This result saw them finish top of Pool I on points ratio: 1.031 against 1.000 for France and 0.970 for Brazil.
· Defending champions United States are aiming to become the first team to retain their World League title since Brazil in 2009 and 2010.
· United States also won the title in 2008. A third gold medal would put them on a par with Russia behind only Brazil (9 gold medals) and Italy (8).
· On the last six occasions United States reached the Final Round (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015) they lost the first match of this stage of the tournament. They still went on to reach the final in 2008 (W), 2012 (L) and 2014 (W).
· United States' last five results in World League matches have alternated: W-L-W-L-W.
· Matthew Anderson and Taylor Sander shared top scorer honours for Unites States in their 3-1 win over France on Friday, with 19 points each.
Serbia
· Serbia are in the World League Final round for the first time since 2010. That year, they claimed the bronze medal by beating Cuba 3-2 in the final for third place.
· Serbia (including its predecessors) have amassed seven medals at the World League (four silver, three bronze) but are yet to win the tournament.
· They beat Poland 3-2 on Friday after they had suffered five sets defeats in their previous two World League matches.
· Aleksandar Atanasijevic scored 27 points in their match against Poland. He only scored more in a single 2015 World League match against Italy, 32 in a 3-2 victory.