Lausanne, Switzerland, July 4, 2017 - Argentina look at extending the tradition which has them win their FIVB World Grand Prix opening match for the last two seasons, when the host Canada on Neuquen on Friday - though the North Americans lead their head-to-head series in the competition 2-1.
Head-to-Head• Argentina and Canada have met three times in the World Grand Prix.
• Canada won twice, 3-2 in 2014 and 3-1 in 2015, while Argentina managed one victory, 3-1 in 2014.
• These teams also met at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. Argentina won 3-1 in the group stage and went on to reach the quarterfinals.
Argentina• Argentina will participate for the seventh time in the World Grand Prix. Their best result came in their debut, a 14th place in 2011.
• Argentina are hoping to win their opening match for the third campaign in a row. Last year they beat Kenya in straight sets and in 2015 they won 3-1 against Croatia.
• Last year, Argentina avoided a straight set defeat, the first campaign they managed to do so.
• Argentina have failed to win each of their last five five-setters in the competition. Before this streak they won each of their first four.
Canada• Canada will appear in the World Grand Prix for the fourth season in a row. Their only other participation came in 2003, when they managed their best result in the competition (11th).
• Canada have won only four matches in the competition, but three of those came against teams representing the South American Volleyball Federation - Argentina (2) and Peru (1).
• Canada have lost their last eight World Grand Prix matches, since the 3-1 win against Argentina in 2015.