Pool E: Italy - China
Head-to-head
• China have won five world championship matches against Italy, and Italy have won once.
• Italy's sole win came in their most recent match-up, as they beat China 3-1 in the 2002 semifinals.
• None of the previous six meetings ended in a five-setter, with four 3-0 and one 3-1 win for China, and one 3-1 win for Italy.
Italy
• Italy are among the three teams in Pool E qualifying for the third round, alongside Dominican Republic and today’s opponents China.
• Italy have won seven of their first eight matches in a world championship for the second time, after having done so in 2006.
• Italy have won at least two sets in each of their last 14 world championship matches, their longest such streak in the history of the tournament.
• Italy have won their last nine matches against Asian opposition, of which eight in straight sets. The only Asian nation to claim a set from Italy in that span was China in 2002 (3-1 Italy win).
China
• On Saturday, China became the first nation to beat Dominican Republic at this World Championship. Still, they gave up sets for only the second time in this tournament (3-2 win).
• China have won their last eight world championship matches, equalling their second longest streak ever, set in 1974-1978. Only in 1982-1990 they had a longer run of victories (20, incl. 2 finals).
• China have beaten their last four European opponents in straight sets. One one occasion they had a five-match straight set winning streak against CEV teams at world championships – in 1974-1978.