Pool E: Germany – Belgium
Head-to-head
• Belgium have run into German opposition twice at the World Championship. In 1956, they defeated West Germany in straight sets. In 1978, they were beaten by East Germany in straight sets.
• Belgium have taken on unified Germany (GER) once in a major competition. In the semifinals of the 2013 European Championship Germany emerged victorious in five sets.
• Belgium have lost eight of their last nine World Championship encounters with fellow European (CEV) sides, the exception in this run being their victory over Azerbaijan earlier in this tournament.
Germany
• Germany's three points in the Pool E standings result from three five-set defeats.
• Germany have now lost four in a row at the World Championship, their longest losing run in the competition since they started taking part as unified Germany.
• The last time a team representing Germany lost more than four in a row at the World Championship was when West Germany lost five successive matches from 1962 to 1974.
Belgium
• Belgium cannot reach the third round, but they can still improve on their best performance in the competition, their 13th place finish in 1956.
• After seven matchrounds, Lise Van Hecke ranked fourth in the tournament in scoring, having racked up 128 points. That is 66 more than her next most prolific teammate, Laura Heyrman (62 points).
• Belgium have lost two in a row. They suffered successive defeats earlier in this tournament and ended that rut with a victory over opponents from Europe (Azerbaijan).