1.   The new strike partnership of Saunders and substitute Dwight Yorke failed to make an immediate impression as Ipswich pressed hard.

2.   Shearer has scored eight goals so far this season in a fearsome strike partnership with Les Ferdinand.

3.   Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is being tipped to spring a surprise on Turkey by unveiling a new-look strike partnership.

4.   Del Piero, who has scored five times in the Champions League alone, will be sorely missed by the strike partnership of Vialli and Fabrizio Ravanelli.

5.   Veteran defender Colin Hendry is to have a hernia operation, while Rangers experienced strike partnership of Ally McCoist and Gordon Durie also withdrew because of injury.

6.   Particularly pleasing for the much-travelled manager was the blossoming strike partnership of speedy Welsh youngster Craig Bellamy and evergreen Alan Shearer.

7.   The effort and skill of Bebeto and sheer genius of Romario made them the most feared strike partnership of this World Cup.