Head-to-Head· This will be the 30th and 31st meeting between these teams in the World League. Brazil have won 15 and Italy have won 14 of the previous 29 encounters.
· Brazil have won the last three meetings with Italy. By winning both encounters, Brazil can become the first team in this fixture to win five in a row.
· In 2014, these teams met five times in the World League, including last year's semifinal in which Brazil beat Italy in straight sets.
· This was one of the two matches played on the very first day of the World League (27 April 1990), along with Netherlands against Soviet Union.
Italy· Italy have played only one World League match in Rome in the last seven years, when they defeated Poland 3-1 last season.
· The final of the 2004 World League between Italy and Brazil was in Rome. Brazil won 3-1. Only two players are left of these squads, Brazilians Sérgio Dutra Santos and Murilo Endres.
· An Italian player has yet to score 20 points in a World League match this season. Of all Group I teams, Russia also have yet to have a player scoring 20+ points.
Brazil· Brazil have won at least two sets in all six matches this World League season. Of all nations in Group I, USA have also won at least two sets in all six matches this season.
· Brazil have won the most World League matches (318). They are followed by Italy (275).
· Luiz Felipe Marques turns 31 on the day of the first match.