Pool D: Czech Republic - Japan (4 July)
Head-to-Head
· Japan won their match against Czech Republic in straight sets on Friday. They can win back-to-back World League matches against the Czechs for the first time ever.
· This was the first time in seven World League encounters that Japan did not concede a set against Czech Republic.
· Jan Stokr was Czech Republic’s most prolific scorer with 14 of 65 total Czech points. Kunihiro Shimizu carried Japan with 23 of 75 total points.
Czech Republic
· Czech Republic have lost their last five World League matches played in July. Their last July-win came in 2003, when they defeated Spain (3-1).
· Czech Republic have lost seven matches in the 2015 World League, already one more than last year and as many as in their debut season 2003.
· The nation has an equal World League balance after their defeat against Japan on Friday, 20 victories and 20 defeats.
Japan
· Japan have won five matches in the 2015 World League, which equals their second best campaign ever (5 wins in 1990, 1991 and 2008). Another win would indicate their outright second-best World League, behind their 10 wins in 1993.
· Japan have won five and lost six in the 2015 World League. They can equal the balance with a win today. Only once in the tournament’s history, Japan have avoided a negative balance at the end of a full campaign, 10 wins, 10 defeats in 1993.
· Japan have won three of their last five matches in straight sets. Of their last 150 matches prior to these, they also won three without conceding a set.