Head-to-Head• France and Brazil will go head-to-head for the eighth time at the World Championship. Brazil won each of their first six meetings, but France claimed victory in their most recent match in 2006 (3-1).
• No match between these teams has ever gone beyond four sets. Four ended in straight set wins.
• Their most recent match-up at a major tournament was at the 2013 World League, when both teams won one of two meetings.
France• France are making only their second semifinal appearance at the World Championship, after losing 3-2 to Russia in 2002. They eventually beat Yugoslavia in the bronze medal match to claim their only World Championship medal so far.
• Their only two losses at the 2014 tournament so far have come against Italy (3-2) and Poland (3-2).
• France need one more win to reach 10 victories at the 2014 World Championship. Their current nine wins are already a record for the team at a single edition, beating their previous best of eight in 2006.
• France have played 138 World Championship matches, winning just one set more than they have lost (254 against 253).
Brazil• Brazil have previously reached the World Championship final four times, including the last three (2002-2006-2010) which they all went on to win. In 1982, they lost the final to the Soviet Union.
• They are looking to become the first nation to win four consecutive World Championship titles.
• The only other country to win three World Championship titles in a row is Italy (1990, 1994 and 1998), who were then dethroned by Brazil.
• This will be Brazil's eighth semifinal, winning in 1982, 2002, 2006 and 2010 and losing in 1986, 1990 and 1998. No other team has played in the semifinals more than five times (Italy, Cuba and Russia).
• Brazil have won 14 of their last 15 matches, with their only loss coming against Poland (3-2) in this year's third round on 16 September.