Head-to-head
· Cuba and Algeria will meet for the first time at the World Cup.
· Two months ago, at the 2015 World Grand Prix, Cuba and Algeria met for the first time in any major international tournament. Cuba won in straight sets in the preliminary round.
· Cuba have won all of their eight meetings with African teams at the World Cup and they dropped their first set against an African side in the 3-1 win against Kenya on 22 August.
Cuba
· On Sunday, Cuba lost 3-0 against China. They have now lost their last five World Cup matches and can lose six in a row for the first time ever in the competition.
· Cuba's only victory so far at this World Cup came in their opener against Kenya (3-1) on 22 August.
· After that victory, Cuba have managed to win only one more set in the tournament, in a 3-1 defeat against Dominican Republic.
· Cuba have lost their last two World Cup matches in straight sets. They can lose three successive matches without winning a set for the first time ever in the competition.
Algeria
· Algeria have lost nine matches in a row, all in straight sets
· Their only win in all 17 World Cup matches came against Kenya (3-1) on 13 November 2011.
· They reached double figures in two sets in their 3-0 (25-11, 25-8, 25-11) defeat against Argentina for the first time in three matches.