Lausanne, Switzerland, July 22, 2017 - France and Venezuela clash Sunday in Canberra for the bronze medal of 2017 FIVB World Grand Prix Group 3, after the European side suffered their first defeat of the season Saturday to Hungary in five sets in the semifinals and Venezuela forfeited their game to Australia. The two sides - both in their debut season - met on the opening weekend of the competition, with France edging the South Americans 3-2.
Head-to-Head• France and Venezuela have met each other on one previous occasion in the World Grand Prix. France won 3-2 in their opener this season on 7 July, when both teams made their World Grand Prix debut.
• The aforementioned meeting was the first ever between these teams in a major competition.
France• France finished just short in their five-set battle against Hungary on Saturday. They took a 1-0 and a 2-1 lead in sets, but the Hungarians prevailed 3-2 in the semi-final.
• France had won all of their six World Grand Prix matches in their debut season until their defeat against Hungary.
• Three of France’s seven World Grand Prix matches went to a fifth set. They won two of those, inclusing one in their opening match of the campaign, against Venezuela.
• Juliette Fidon tallied 28 of France’s 95 points against Hungary. 25 of her points came from spikes, two were kill blocks and one a serve winner.
Venezuela• Venezuela had to forfeit their semi-final match against Australia on Saturday.
• Venezuela had won four and lost two World Grand Prix matches coming into the final weekend.