Lausanne, Switzerland, September 12, 2017 – After shutting out World League winners France on the first competition day of the 2017 FIVB Men's World Grand Champions Cup in Japan, Brazil will be looking to defeat another European powerhouse, Italy, on the second. Wednesday’s match in Nagoya will be the fourth encounter between Brazil and Italy in the history of the Grand Champions Cup.
Head-to-Head
• All previous three World Grand Champions Cup meetings between these nations resulted in five-setters. Brazil won the two most recent meetings. Italy won the first match in 1993.
• Italy's win in 1993 was Brazil's first defeat in the history of the World Grand Champions Cup.
• This will be a replay of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games final, when Brazil beat Italy 3-0 (25-22, 28-26, 26-24).
Brazil
• Brazil started with a 3-0 win against France. The titleholders have won their first two matches of the World Grand Champions Cup in all of the previous six tournaments.
• They could win their first two matches in straight sets for the first time.
• Brazil have lost only one of their last 18 World Grand Champions Cup matches, the 2-3 defeat against Russia in 2013.
• After losing the final of the 2017 World League against France, Brazil have now won their next six competitive matches at the South American Championship and the World Grand Champions Cup. They last won seven in a row in the 2016 World League.
Italy
• Italy started the World Grand Champions Cup with a 2-3 defeat against Iran. It was the first time they lost their first match of the tournament.
• After winning their first seven matches at the World Grand Champions Cup, Italy have now lost six of their next nine in this competition.
• They have lost the last six of their last eight matches in major competitions that went into deciding fifth sets.
• Filippo Lanza scored 23 points in Italy's 2-3 defeat against Iran.