Bari, Italy, August 9, 2019 - Tokyo Volleyball Qualification Pool C began with a victory for Serbia 3-1 (26-28, 25-19, 25-19, 32-30) on Friday in Bari.
Pre-match stats:
Australia - Serbia (August 9, 2019)
Head-to-Head
· Australia and Serbia (incl. predecessors) meet for the third time in the last seven world Olympic qualifying campaigns (1996-2020).
· Serbia won 3-0 in 1996 (as Serbia and Montenegro) and 3-0 in 2012. Serbia qualified for the Olympic Games in both those tournaments.
· Serbia (incl. predecessors) won eight of their nine meetings with Australia in major world level tournaments (Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World League, Nations League, Grand Champions Cup).
· Australia's only world level victory over Serbia was a 3-2 in in the 2015 World League.
· Serbia defeated Australia in five sets in the 2019 Volleyball Nations League, their most recent world level encounter.
Australia
· Australia can qualify for the Olympic Games for the fourth time, after 2000 (8th place), 2004 (11th) and 2012 (9th).
· Australia qualified for these Olympic Games as the host nation (2000) and as the best Asian NOC at the world Olympic qualification tournament (2004, 2012).
· Australia appeared in five of the last six world Olympic qualifying campaigns (1996-2016), with the exception of the 2000 edition (already qualified as hosts).
· Australia failed to win any of their seven matches against CEV sides in these five world Olympic qualification participations. They claimed only one set in these seven matches, in a 3-1 defeat against France in 2016.
· Australia won their last seven world Olympic qualification matches in which they won the first set, since a 3-2 defeat against Republic of Korea in 2008.
Serbia
· Serbia (NOC) participated in the Olympic Games in 2008 (5th place) and 2012 (9th). Serbia and Montenegro competed in 2004 (5th), Yugoslavia in 1980 (6th) and Yugoslavia (1992-2003) in 1996 (3rd) and 2000 (1st).
· Serbia qualified for the London 2012 Olympic Games through world Olympic qualification. They won all seven of their matches in the tournament in Tokyo, dropping only one set.
· In 2008, Serbia earned an Olympic ticket after winning the European Olympic qualification tournament.
· Serbia and Montenegro competed in the 1996 world Olympic qualifying campaign. They won the tournament in Munich after winning all three of their matches in straight sets. At the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games they participated under the NOC Yugoslavia (1992-2003).
Italy - Cameroon (August 9, 2019)
Head-to-Head
· Italy and Cameroon meet for the first time in the last seven world Olympic qualifying campaigns (1996-2020).
· Italy won both of their encounters with Cameroon in major world level competitions (Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World League, Nations League, Grand Champions Cup).
· Italy won in straight sets at the 1989 World Cup and at the 1990 World Championship.
· Italy won each of their last 19 world level matches against CAVB sides, since a defeat in their first ever world level meeting with an African nation: 3-2 versus Egypt at the 1974 World Championship.
· Cameroon never defeated a CEV side at major world level.
Italy
· Italy participated 11 times in the Olympic Games, all in the last 11 editions (1976-2016).
· Italy is one of two NOCs to have appeared in the men's tournament in each of the last 11 editions (1976-2016), alongside Brazil.
· Only Brazil (all 14) have appeared in more Olympic Games than Italy (11). United States have also participated 11 times.
· Italy collected six Olympic medals in the men's tournament, but none of those were gold. They took silver in 1996, 2004 and 2016, and bronze in 1984, 2000 and 2012.
· Italy's six Olympic medals are a joint-record alongside Brazil and Soviet Union.
· Italy took part in only one of the last six world Olympic qualifying campaigns (1996-2016). Italy won all seven of their matches in the 2008 tournament in Tokyo and qualified for the Olympic Games.
· Italy reached the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after finishing runners-up at the 2015 World Cup.
Cameroon
· Cameroon can become the fifth African NOC to reach the Olympic Games, after Tunisia (6 times), Egypt (4, excluding 1976 boycott), Algeria (1) and Libya (1).
· Cameroon participated in one of the last six world Olympic qualifying campaigns (1996-2016), in 2004.
· Cameroon finished in fourth place in the 2004 tournament in Madrid, after losing in straight sets to Netherlands, Spain and Cuba.
Quick links - Volleyball:
FIVB.com - Tokyo Volleyball Qualification
FIVB.com - Volleyball
Volleyball TV
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram