Tokyo, Japan, May 25, 2016 - China and France will face each other in the second match of the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Japan. France beat China in eight of their nine most recent encounters at world-level tournaments.
Head-to-head
• The last time these teams met at a World Olympic Qualification tournament came in 2004 when France won in straight sets.
• In the last 10 years, China and France have met nine times at world-level tournaments, eight in the World League and one at the World Championship. France won eight of these meetings.
• China's only win in this streak came at the 2010 World League when they won one of the four encounters (3-1).
China
• China have been present at two Olympic Games. In 1984 they finished eighth and in 2008 fifth.
• In 1984, they qualified for the Olympic Games after replacing one of the teams withdrawing from the tournament due to the Soviet-led boycott. In 2008, China hosted the Olympic Games.
• In 2012, China failed to qualify for the Olympic Games after finishing fifth at the World Olympic Qualification tournament behind Serbia, Australia, Iran and Japan.
• The last five World Olympic Qualification matches of China ended in an alternate win/loss: L-W-L-W-L. They beat Japan and Venezuela 3-1.
• China have won their opening match in straight sets at the previous two World Olympic Qualification tournaments they participated in, against Korea in 2004 and Puerto Rico in 2012.
France
• France have participated three times at the Olympic Games (1988, 1992 and 2004). In Seoul 1988 they finished eighth, their best result ever.
• In 1988 they qualified as the European champions. In both 1992 and 2004 they qualified through the World Olympic Qualification tournament.
• At the 2004 World Olympic Qualification, France won all seven matches in Tokyo.
• France have lost only one of their last 10 matches at the World Olympic Qualification tournament; 3-1 against Bulgaria in Sofia 2012. That 3-1 was a crucial loss as they failed to qualify while Bulgaria did.
• France are the reigning World League and European champions.