Katowice / Krakow, Poland, August 31, 2017.  The best four teams of LOTTO EUROVOLLEY POLAND 2017 will emerge on Thursday evening as quarterfinal action unfolds in Katowice and Krakow. Germany and the Czech Republic will open the Spodek for business at 17:30 local time, while Russia and Slovenia measure up to each other again at the Tauron Arena. At 20:30, Belgium will face Italy in Katowice, while Serbia and Bulgaria engage in an all-Balkan clash for a spot in the semifinals in Krakow.

Here are some key facts and stats ahead of these quarterfinal encounters:


Germany vs Czech Republic



Head-to-Head
- Germany and the Czech Republic have met five times at the European Championships, with all of their fixtures being played in three sets in the pool phase.
- The Czech Republic (as Czechoslovakia) won their first encounter in 1958, but the Germans have won their most recent four meetings (all played this century) including earlier this tournament.
- In that most recent fixture, György Grozer was the only player who scored more than nine points as he netted 19.
- In 2012, Germany reached the 2012 Olympic Games defeating the Czech Republic by 3-1 in their final fixture at the qualification tournament.

Germany
- Germany have never finished on the podium at a European Championship, with their best result finishing in fourth place in both 1991 and 1993.
- These were also the only occasions in which Germany reached the semifinals.
- Germany were knocked out in the quarterfinals in both 2013 and 2015, with Bulgaria proving too strong in both tournaments (3-1 and 3-0).
- The Germans started this tournament with three victories and could win four straight for the first time since 2001 - 2003.
- They could win three consecutive European Championship matches in straight sets for the first time.
- György Grozer has averaged 5.87 points per set in this tournament (47 points in 8 sets), the highest average of all players.
- Grozer has scored 17 points more than the next most prolific scorer for Germany, Christian Fromm (30), despite the fact that Fromm has played in three sets more than Grozer (11 versus 8).

Czech Republic
- The Czech Republic reached the quarterfinals at this European Championship by eliminating title defenders France in the play-offs (3-1).
- The last three teams that eliminated the reigning champions finished respectively second (Italy in 2011), first (Russia in 2013) and third (Italy in 2015).
- They hope to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2001, when they ultimately finished in fourth place.
- The Czech Republic won three of the first four European titles (1948, 1955 and 1958, all as Czechoslovakia), but have failed to add another title since.
- The Czech Republic could win consecutive European Championship matches for the first time since 2011, when they won their opening two fixtures of the tournament.
- Michal Finger added 19 points to his total in the match against France - the Czech top scorer is now on 61 points, fifth-most of all players.


Russia vs Slovenia



Head-to-Head
- Russia and Slovenia will meet for the third time at the European Championships, with the Russians winning both previous encounters in straight sets.
- Their first meeting came during Slovenia's debut at the tournament in 2001 (pool stage).
- Their other encounter came earlier during this tournament. Slovenia failed to win a set despite claiming 25 and 28 points in the first and the second sets, respectively.

Russia
- Russia (including the Soviet Union) have won the European Championship a record 13 times, seven more than the next prolific country (Italy on 6).
- Their 21 top-three finishes are also more than those of any other team.
- Russia have won only one of the last 12 European titles as they emerged victorious in 2013 by beating Italy in the final (3-1).
- The Russians have won 12 of their last 13 European Championship matches with the exception of the 0-3 loss to Italy in the 2015 quarterfinals.
- Russia have reached the semifinals at eight of the last nine European Championships with the exception of 2015.
- The last time they missed out on the semifinals at successive European Championships was in 1995 and 1997.
- Russia are the only team that have not lost a single set at this European Championship.
- They could win four consecutive matches by a 3-0 score line for the first time since 2007, when they won their first four fixtures of the tournament in straight sets on their way to finishing as runners-up.
- Maxim Mikhailov is Russia's highest scorer in this tournament with 45 points.

Slovenia
- Slovenia reached the quarterfinals by defeating hosts Poland in straight sets.
- Slovenia are the runners-up from 2015. The last team to reach the final at successive European Championships was Italy in 2011 and 2013. They lost the final on both occasions.
- In their only previous quarterfinal fixture at the European Championships (2015), they won in five sets against Poland.
- Each of Slovenia's last five matches at the European Championships were played in three sets (three defeats, two victories).
- They could win successive European Championship matches in straight sets for the first time.
- Alen Pajenk and Alen Sket (both at 13) were the only players to reach double figures in scoring against Poland on Wednesday.


Belgium vs Italy



Head-to-Head
- Belgium and Italy will meet for the 12th time at a European Championship and for the first time since their pool stage encounter in 2013, when Belgium won by 3-2.
- That was one of two Belgian victories over Italy at European Championships, together with a straight-set victory in 1951.
- Belgium have not lost more European Championship matches against any other opponents than against Italy (9).
- Earlier this year, Belgium won by 3-1 against Italy in the World League. That victory followed on two straight-set Italian victories over the Belgians in the 2016 World League.

Belgium
- Belgium have reached the quarterfinals at the European Championships for the first time since 2013, when they were knocked out at this stage by Serbia (1-3).
- Belgium's highest finish in the tournament was fifth place in the inaugural edition in 1948, when only six countries participated.
- The Belgian team could win four consecutive European Championship fixtures for the second time, after a five-match winning streak in 1967.
- Belgium secured their first place in the pool defeating the Netherlands by 3-0 in their third fixture. The last time they claimed successive straight-set victories in the tournament was in 1987 (three in a row).
- Sam Deroo is Belgium's highest scorer at this European Championship with 51 points.
- Simon van de Voorde has averaged 0.85 points from blocks per set in this tournament (11 points in 13 sets played).

Italy
- Only Russia (including the Soviet Union and CIS) have won more European titles than Italy’s six, but Italy's last title to date came in 2005.
- Italy reached the semifinals at each of the last three European Championships, finishing as runners-up in 2011 and 2013 and claiming third place in 2015.
- Italy have never lost a quarterfinal match at a European Championship, defeating Finland by 3-1 in 2011 and in 2013 and Russia by 3-0 in 2015.
- The Italians could win four consecutive EuroVolley matches for the first time since 2005 - 2007, which included the semifinal and the final on their way to their most recent European title.
- They could win four successive matches in straight sets for the first time since 1995, when they also won the European title.
- Luca Vettori scored a match-high 14 points against Turkey, one more than Filippo Lanza (13) who is still Italy’s top scorer in this tournament with 64.


Serbia vs Bulgaria



Head-to-Head
- Serbia and Bulgaria will meet for the 17th time at the European Championships, with four wins for Serbia against 12 for Bulgaria.
- Against no other opponents have Serbia lost more than nine matches at the European Championships.
- Bulgaria won 11 of their first 12 meetings at the European Championships, but Serbia have now won three of the last four.
- They met in the match for the third place in this run with Serbia winning in straight sets on both occasions (1995 as Yugoslavia and 2013).
- Their other encounters in this streak came in the pool stage in 2003 (3-0 win for Serbia and Montenegro) and 2009 (3-2 win for Bulgaria).
- Since Serbia's win in 2013, these sides have met seven times in the World League. Serbia won the first six (2014 - 2016) but their only meeting in 2017 resulted in a Bulgarian victory (3-2).

Serbia
- Serbia are aiming for their first European title since 2011, when they won all of their six matches including the final against Italy (3-1).
- In 2015, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by eventual winners France. In both 2011 and 2013, they won their quarterfinal fixtures (3-1 against France and Belgium, respectively).
- Serbia have reached a top-four finish at nine of their last 11 participations in the European Championships, with the exception of 2009 (eliminated in second pool phase) and 2015.
- Serbia won each of their three pool phase matches in this tournament and could win four in a row for the first time since 2013.
- They have won at least one set in each of their last 28 European Championship matches since a 0-3 defeat against Russia in the 2017 semifinals.
- Serbia have two players reaching 40+ points in this tournament - Nemanja Petric (42) and Uros Kovacevic (41).

Bulgaria
- Bulgaria have played the bronze-medal match at three of the previous four European Championships, winning in 2009, but losing in both 2013 and 2015.
- The only time they were ousted before the semifinals in this run was in 2011, when they were eliminated by Russia in the quarterfinals.
- Bulgaria lost the first set in their play-off for the quarterfinals against Finland, but turned it around and won by 3-1. In the last two sets, they had at least 10 points more than their opponents (25-11 and 25-12).
- They could win four European Championship fixtures in a row for the first time since their run in 2015, which included a 3-0 quarterfinal win over Germany.
- Tsvetan Sokolov scored 21 points against Finland, reaching a total of 72 points in the whole tournament - at least 24 more than any other Bulgarian player.

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