After opening up with two wins in Pool D, the Iranians were looking to continue their fine start but came up against a French side looking to bounce back from defeat to Italy in their previous match.

It was France who found their rhythm early on taking the first set 25-18 but, led by the impressive Milad Ebadipour, Iran came straight back to level by taking the second 25-14.

But the duo of Antonin Rouzier and Earvin Ngapeth began to find their range in the third and helping France into a 2-1 set lead before a tight fourth went the way of Les Blues 27-25 to seal a 3-1 win.

Rouzier and Ngapeth finished with 19 points apiece while Kevin Tillie chipped in with 18 of his own.

Kevin Tillie was on top form for France as they defeated Iran Kevin Tillie was on top form for France as they defeated Iran ©Getty Images




Iran sit third in Pool D behind the French and second placed United States after they recorded a 3-0 win earlier at the Kraków Arena.

Their opponents Puerto Rico have yet to win a set at these Championships as they had no answer to the superior scoring power of the US who ran out 25-15, 25-8, 25-20 winners with Taylor Sander and Matthew Anderson top-scoring for the Americans with 11 and 10 points respectively.

Italy and Belgium came into their clash both having lost one and won one so far in Poland and it was the Italians who emerged with a positive record as they came through a hard fought contest 3-1.

The Belgians had taken the first set 28-26, but the three-time champions Italy roared back to take the next three sets for a crucial win.

At the Halla Stulecia in Wroclaw, Poland made it three-from-three with a straight forward win over Venezuela.

The hosts have also yet to drop a set after a 25-20, 25-13, 25-14 victory over their South American opponents who are being propped up in Pool A by Cameroon.

The United States proved too big an obstacle for Puerto Rico to pass ©Getty Images