Russia, Canada Become 4th and 5th Teams to Qualify for Final 6

2017 FIVB WORLD LEAGUE – GROUP 1

• June 2nd-July 8th, 2017
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With 2 matches left to be played in the top tier of the 2017 FIVB World League, all but 1 spot is sealed-up for the Final 6 in Curitaba, Brazil. The latest two to join the fray are Russia and Canada, who earned full points with wins on Sunday. For Russia, it was a 3-0 victory over Iran in Lodz, Poland. For Canada, it was a 3-1 win over Italy in Antwerp, Belgium. For both, it will be the first appearance in a Final 6 since at least 2014.

Antwerpen : World league :
Canada – Italy :
foto VDB / BART VANDENBROUCKE

In Canada’s last trip to the Final 6, in 2013, they finished 5th – their highest-ever placing (so far) in the 28-year history of the tournament. That year, they beat Russia 3-2 and lost to Brazil 3-0, and with all 3 teams in their half of the pool finishing 1-1, they had the fewest points with just a 5-set win to their names.

Canada’s World League History:

• 1991 Milan — 10th place
• 1992 Genoa — 7th place
• 1999 Mar del Plata — 8th place
• 2000 Rotterdam — 11th place
• 2007 Katowice — 13th place
• 2012 Sofia — 12th place
• 2013 Mar del Plata — 5th place
• 2014 Florence — 13th place
• 2015 Rio de Janeiro — 15th place
• 2016 Kraków — 13th place

Courtesy: FIVB

Russia, meanwhile, has 3 World League titles to their name, having participated in 21 World Leagues. They’ve placed in the top 6 on 18 different occasions, including 14 medal finishes. They finished 5th in 2014 and won as recently as 2013. None of the 12 players on Russia’s Finals roster that year are on this year’s World League team.

Russia started the World League 1-4, but won their last 4 consecutively to sneak in to the Final 6. That includes avenging a loss to the United States on Saturday.

Russia’s World League History

• 1993 – Silver medal
• 1994 – 6th place
• 1995 – 4th place
• 1996 – Bronze medal
• 1997 – Bronze medal
• 1998 – Silver medal
• 1999 – 4th place
• 2000 – Silver medal
• 2001 – Bronze medal
• 2002 – Gold medal
• 2003 – 7th place
• 2006 – Bronze medal
• 2007 – Silver medal
• 2008 – Bronze medal
• 2009 – Bronze medal
• 2010 – Silver medal
• 2011 – Gold medal
• 2012 – 8th place
• 2013 – Gold medal
• 2014 – 5th place
• 2015 – 8th place
• 2016 – 7th place

The teams join the hosts Brazil, top-ranked France, and defending champions Canada