Tokyo, Japan, May 30, 2016 - The adrenaline is about to shoot through the roof when the third match on the third competition day at the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Japan is up. The unbeaten leaders of the standings Iran will lock horns with tournament pre-favourites France, who will be looking to recover from their dramatic loss on Sunday.
Head-to-head
• France won the last encounter between these teams at the World Olympic Qualification tournament in straight sets in 2004.
• These teams met twice at the 2014 World Championship. In the first round, France won 3-1, but both teams progressed to the next round.
• In the third round these teams met again. France won 3-2 and eliminated Iran while themselves progressed to the final four. In the semifinals France were defeated by Brazil.
Iran
• Tournament leaders Iran have won their opening two matches. They came from two sets down to beat Canada 3-2 on Sunday and recorded a straight-set victory over Australia on day one.
• Iran could win their first three matches at the World Olympic Qualification tournament for the first time in the past 20 years. In 2012, they suffered their first defeat in match three (3-1 against Australia) after wins over Korea and China.
• Only Canada's Gavin Schmitt (44) and France's Antonin Rouzier (41) have scored more points at the 2016 World Olympic Qualification tournament than Amir Ghafour (38).
France
• France failed to convert four match points in set three to lose 3-2 against Poland on day two. France kicked off their 2016 World Olympic Qualification tournament campaign with a 3-1 win against China
• France have now lost two of their last 12 matches at the World Olympic Qualification tournament.
• Earvin Ngapeth contributed a match-high 22 points in France's five-set defeat against Poland.
• Only Canada's Gavin Schmitt (44) has scored more points at the 2016 World Olympic Qualification tournament than Antonin Rouzier (41).
• Rouzier is on a tournament-high 38 spikes (from 70 attempts).