Pool E: Belgium - Netherlands (4 July)
Head-to-Head
· On Friday, Belgium beat Netherlands in a tense five-setter, claiming their third win against the low country rivals. Netherlands won only once in the previous four meetings.
· For the first time in the World League, Netherlands won one or more sets in a match against Belgium and failed to win. Both previous Belgian wins came in straight sets.
· Holland lost 3-0 in the previous meeting on 7 June, scoring only 43 points: 25-12, 25-17, 25-14. On Friday, Netherlands almost tripled that number of points scored, with 115. Belgium managed 119.
· Kay Van Dijk scored a dashing 30 points against Belgium on Friday. Belgium's top scorer Sam Deroo added 18 points to his tally.
Belgium
· Belgium qualified for the Final Four in Bulgaria by beating Netherlands on Friday.
· Belgium have won their last six World League matches, which is an outright team record. The previous record was five, set between 2014 and 2015.
· They have won 11 of their last 12 World League matches, only losing 3-2 against Netherlands in 's-Hertogenbosch on 6 June.
· Belgium have won four of five five-setters in 2015, while losing all four in their debut season 2014.
· Sam Deroo has scored most points in the 2015 World League so far with 207 points.
Netherlands
· Netherlands wasted several match points on Friday against Belgium and saw their Final Four chances evaporate.
· This was Netherlands’ fifth five-setter in 2015. This equals most for them in a single World League season. They also had five in 2014.
· Netherlands suffered their 122nd World League defeat. This ranks ninth all-time, one shy of Italy in eighth place (123). Netherlands have 156 victories, sixth most.