SOFIA, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese team lost to France 3-0 in Bulgaria's Danube city of Ruse on Wednesday in the first match of pool B of the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship.

The 2015 European champions beat China 25-20, 25-21 and 25-17.

In its remaining matches in the pool B, China will face the Netherlands on Friday, Canada on Saturday, Egypt on Sunday, and Brazil next Tuesday.

"The pool is really tough with high-class opponents but we will fight and give the best we are capable of in the upcoming matches," China's coach Raul Lozano said at a press conference on Tuesday.

"We have put really great work into our preparation for this tournament and we will try to reach the next phase," Lozano said.

A total of 24 teams participate in the championship, which is taking place in both Italy and Bulgaria from Sept. 9-30.

In the first round, the 24 teams are spread across four pools of six teams playing in a round-robin system. The top four teams from each pool will advance to the second round featuring four pools of four teams playing in four cities.