Lausanne, Switzerland, July 4, 2017 - Korea return to the FIVB World Grand Prix after three years, when they take on Germany Friday in Ruse. The two sides meet for the 11th time in the history of the competition with the Asians ahead in the series 10-3.
Head-to-Head• Korea have faced Germany 10 times at the World Grand Prix: W7-L3.
• They most recently met in the Preliminary Round in 2014, when Korea won 3-1.
• In their last six matches at the World Grand Prix the winner alternated: Germany-Korea-Germany-Korea-Germany-Korea.
• Both teams are making their 18th appearance in the World Grand Prix.
Korea• Korea will make their first participation since 2014, when they finished ninth.
• Their best result in the competition is a third place, in 1997.
• They have not finished better than ninth since 2003, when they finished sixth.
• In their last World Grand Prix campaign in 2014, Korea won their opening two matches against Thailand and Germany respectively.
Germany• Germany have finished on the podium of the World Grand Prix twice: third in 2002 and 2009.
• Last year they finished 12th, their second-worst result behind their 13th place in 2011.
• Germany can lose 10 successive World Grand Prix matches. Their record number of consecutive losses in the tournament is 14 from 1995-2001.
• Their last three losses came in straight sets, against United States, China and Netherlands respectively.