Turkey versus Russia

• These teams have met each other once at a World Championship. In 2010 at Osaka (JPN), Russia won 3-1 in the first round.

• This year, the teams met three times at the World Grand Prix. Turkey won the first encounter, Russia the following two.

• Turkey and Russia have played one match in Italy before. At Monza in a 2011 European Championship quarterfinal, Turkey won in straight sets.

• Turkey have won four of 11 World Championship matches against fellow CEV sides, but none of the last three. In 2014, Serbia and Bulgaria proved too strong.

• Among European sides since 2003, only Italy (6) have booked more victories against Russia in main tournaments than Turkey (3).

• In 28 World Championship matches, Turkey registered 13 wins to 15 defeats, with results mainly alternating (win, loss, win, loss, etc). They never had more than two consecutive similar results in terms of winning and losing. 

• After suffering their first defeat at World Championships since November 2006 last Sunday, Russia rebounded well by beating Bulgaria 3-1.

• Russia have given up at least one set in each of their last three World Championship matches. The last time they did this in four straight: four consecutive 3-1 victories in November 2006.

• Russia are unbeaten in their last 18 matches against CEV sides (since 1986) at the World Championship. They won nine of these in straight sets.

• Russia are one shy of winning 150 sets at World Championships as an autonomous nation (since 1994). Including the Soviet Union era, they have tournament-high 379 sets won.