Pool E: Portugal - Belgium (28 June)
Head-to-head
· Belgium have won all their World League matches against Portugal, all this season, 3-0, 3-2 and 3-1.
· Belgium have only played more matches against Australia without ever losing in the World League (4 matches).
· Portugal have also played at least three World League matches against Cuba (8 matches), Italy (4) and Bulgaria (4) without ever winning.
· Portugal had won the other two matches against Belgium at major tournaments, but these wins date back to the 1956 World Championships and the 1948 European Championships.
Portugal
· Portugal can no longer qualify for the Final Four.
· Portugal have lost nine of their last 10 World League matches and have conceded at least two sets in all these 10 matches since beating Korea 3-0 on 5 July 2014.
· They have played 69 World League matches against CEV teams, but have yet to win by 3-0 against European teams.
· Portugal won the opening set on Saturday. They have not won the opening set in back-to-back World League matches since their first two matches this season, both against Netherlands (both defeats).
Belgium
· Belgium have won nine of their last 10 World League matches, including their last four.
· Belgium can lose the opening set in successive World League matches for the first time since June 2014, when they played against Canada twice (lost 3-0 and won 3-1).
· Belgium need one more victory to surpass their win total from their debut season (8 in 2014).
· They are also one straight sets victory shy of equalling their total of three from last year.