The starting field is completed by Iran, the group coached by legendary Julio Velasco that missed out on an Olympic berth this past June in Tokyo after performing very well at the 2011 FIVB World Cup in Japan.
In the opening match of the tournament Germany beat Argentina 3:1 (25-23, 25-23, 21-25, and 25-19). These teams had already crossed their ways in the prelims of the FIVB World League and once again the guys mentored by Vital Heynen got the upper hand against the South Americans.