Poland is out but I don't understand - is there any groups???
good question...this is quite a interesting game format:
generally, there 2 pools
A: RUS, JPN, BLR
B: CUB, AZE, NED
2 teams per pool will meet one another, while the rest team from different pools will meet....which means there is no teams with a bye.
for example ....when rus meets japan, and cub meets azerbaijan, belarus from pool A and netherlands from Pool B will meet.
for each team, apart from fighting for the pool, will play an additional game with a team from the the other pool.
i think this format was applied in world league final round in poland ?? couple of years ago? im not quite sure about the time...