Head-to-head· Australia and Italy will meet for the first time at the World Cup.
· These teams have met 14 times in all major international competitions of which six came after meeting at the 2012 London Olympic Games (3-2 Italy win).
· At the 2015 World League, Italy and Australia met four times in the intercontinental round. The Italians won both encounters in Adelaide by a 3-1 scoreline. In Italy, both teams recorded a straight sets victory.
· Australia's victory (3-0) three months ago in the World League marks their only win over Italy to date in all major international competitions.
Australia· On Tuesday, Australia kicked of their World Cup campaign with a 3-0 defeat against United States (25-23, 25-12, 25-15). Only Brazil in 2007, won the World Cup despite losing their opening match.
· Only against Bulgaria in 2007 (49 points in 3-0 defeat), and against USA in 2007 (48 points in 3-0 defeat) Australia managed to score fewer points than in this year's opener against United States (50).
· Australia have now lost seven of their last eight World Cup matches, including five in straight sets.
· Thomas Edgar scored a team-high 13 points against United States, including 11 spikes from 20 attempts.
Italy· Italy beat Canada 3-1 (25-19, 25-20, 22-25, 25-13) in their opening match on Tuesday. They can win their opening two matches of a World Cup campaign for the fourth time after 1989, 1995 (won) and 2003.
· Italy have won at least one set in each of their last 30 World Cup matches, since a 3-0 defeat against United States in 1999.
· Ivan Zaytsev topped the top scorers list against Canada with 20 points. Filippo Lanza scored 15 points.