When returning to the World Cup stage, the German volleyball players missed chances and conceded a defeat.
In the opening game in Ljubljana/Slovenia, the team of the new national coach Michal Winiarski lost to Olympic champion France 0:3 (22:25, 26:28, 24:26), but missed three set points in the second round.
The selection of the German Volleyball Association (DVV) is back for the first time since 2014 at a world championship. Other group opponents at the tournament are Cameroon (Sunday) and Vice European Champion Slovenia (Tuesday). The second host alongside Slovenia is Poland.
The two best-placed teams from each of the six preliminary round groups and four third parties reach the round of 16.