Facts & Figures

Pool A

· Germany (NOC) are hoping to qualify for their third Olympic Games, after 2008 and 2012. East Germany appeared in 1968 and 1972, while West Germany participated in 1972.
· Germany finished in joint-ninth place at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, before finishing joint-fifth four years later in London.
· In 2008 and 2012, Germany qualified for the Olympic Games in a World Olympic Qualification tournament.
· Germany competed in each of the last four European Olympic Qualification tournaments (2004-2016), but failed to secure an Olympic ticket. In 2012, they lost the final 3-2 to Italy, while they were eliminated in the semi-finals in both 2004 (vs Netherlands) and 2016 (vs Russia).
· Germany are on a five-match winning run against Czech Republic at the European Championships.

· Belgium competed in only one Olympic Games, in 1968. Belgium received a wildcard for those Games after Romania withdrew from the competition.
· Belgium finished in eighth place at the 1968 Olympic Games, after winning two of their nine matches.
· Since the turn of the century, Belgium appeared in only one European Olympic Qualification tournament. They finished in seventh place in 2016 after losing all three of their matches.
· Belgium finished third in their group in the 2019 Intercontinental Olympic Qualification tournament, behind United States (1st) and the Netherlands (2nd).
· At the 2019 European Championship, Belgium defeated Germany 3-2, their first win in the competition against a German team since defeating West Germany in 1963.

· Slovenia and Czech Republic (NOC) could qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time. Czechoslovakia participated in the Olympic Games from 1964 to 1980.
· Slovenia failed to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in the 2019 Intercontinental Olympic Qualification tournament. They finished third in their group behind Poland (1st) and France (2nd).
· Slovenia finished joint-seventh in the 2012 European Olympic Qualification tournament. They entered this tournament after finishing second in the pre-qualification tournament.
· Slovenia defeated Belgium twice in the 2018 World Championship, 3-2 in the first round and 3-0 in the second round.
· The last time Czech Republic participated in a European Olympic Qualification tournament was in 2000. They finished in fifth place.

Pool B

· Serbia (NOC) previously appeared in the Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012. They also participated four times as Yugoslavia or Serbia & Montenegro (1980, 1996, 2000, 2004).
· Serbia finished joint-fifth at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games after qualifying in the European Olympic Qualification tournament. Four years later in London, they finished joint-ninth after earning an Olympic ticket through a World Olympic Qualification tournament.
· Yugoslavia won Olympic gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and collected a bronze medal at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.
· Serbia appeared in each of the last three European Olympic Qualification tournaments. They won the tournament in 2008, finished joint-third in 2012 and took fifth place in 2016.
· In the 2008 European Olympic Qualification tournament, Serbia defeated Netherlands 3-0 in the semi-finals.
· Serbia finished second in their group in the 2019 Intercontinental Olympic Qualification tournament, behind Italy.
· Serbia defeated France 3-2 in the semi-finals of the 2019 European Championship.
· France could compete in their fifth Olympic Games, after 1988, 1992, 2004 and 2016. Their best result was an eighth place in 1988.

· France qualified for the Olympic Games in 1992 through a European Olympic Qualification tournament. Their last two Olympic participations (2004, 2016) came after qualifying in World Olympic Qualification tournaments.
· France were eliminated by Russia in their last two participations in a European Olympic Qualification tournament: 3-0 in the 2004 semi-finals and 3-1 in the 2016 final.
· France failed to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in the 2019 Intercontinental Olympic Qualification tournament held in Gdansk. They finished second in their group behind Poland.
· France defeated Bulgaria 3-0 in the 2016 European Olympic Qualification tournament. More recently, France won in straight sets against Bulgaria at the 2019 European Championship.

· Bulgaria have participated in the Olympic Games on eight previous occasions. They collected one medal, silver in 1980.
· Since the turn of the century, Bulgaria appeared in four of the five European Olympic Qualification tournaments, with the only exception 2008. Their best result was a second place in the 2000 edition.
· Bulgaria finished second in their group in the 2019 Intercontinental Olympic Qualification tournament, behind Brazil.
· Bulgaria qualified through the World Cup (2008) and a World Olympic Qualification tournament (2012) in their two most recent participations in the Olympic Games.
· Bulgaria defeated Serbia 3-0 in the 2012 European Olympic Qualification tournament. Both teams failed to win an Olympic ticket that tournament.

· The Netherlands could appear in their seventh Olympic Games, and in their first since 2004. The Netherlands won Olympic gold in 1996 and silver in 1992.
· The Netherlands qualified for the Olympic Games in 1992 through a European Olympic Qualification tournament. Their last two Olympic participations (2000, 2004) came after qualifying in a World Olympic Qualification tournament.
· This century, the Netherlands lost in the final of the 2004 European Olympic Qualification tournament (3-0 loss against Russia), while finishing third in 2000 and 2008. They did not appear in 2012 and 2016.
· In 2000, the Netherlands defeated Bulgaria 3-1 in the European Olympic Qualification tournament held in Katowice, Poland.
· The Netherlands beat France 3-0 in the 2004 European Olympic Qualification tournament. The Netherlands also emerged victorious in their most recent world level meeting, 3-2 in the 2018 World Championship.