Lausanne, Switzerland, July 4, 2017 - Croatia and Poland clash for the very first time in the history of the FIVB World Grand Prix Friday in Neuquen - though Poland have beaten Crotia three times in four matches at the European Championships.
Head-to-Head• Croatia and Poland will meet for the first time at the World Grand Prix.
• These teams have met four times at the European championships. Croatia won their first meeting, 3-0 in 1999, but lost their last three: 3-0 in 2001, 3-1 in 2005 and 3-0 in 2009.
• Croatia are hoping to win their first World Grand Prix match against a fellow CEV team.
Croatia• Croatia will participate for the fourth time in the World Grand Prix, after 2014, 2015 and 2016. They have never finished higher than a 20th place (2015).
• Croatia have won seven of their last eight World Grand Prix matches, only losing to Peru (3-1). Of their first 14 matches in the competition they won only five.
• Croatia have lost both of their two previous five-setters in the competition, against Czech Republic in 2014 and against Bulgaria in 2015.
Poland• Poland have been present in the World Grand Prix ever since making their debut in 2004.
• Their best result in the competition is a sixth place in 2007 and 2010.
• Poland are hoping to win their opening match for the fourth campaign in a row, after beating Belgium (3-1) in 2014, Bulgaria (3-0) in 2015 and Canada (3-1) in 2016.