11.   In the Gold Cup matches, South Korea lost to the United States and fellow World Cup qualifiers Costa Rica.

12.   Italy and Germany beat fellow qualifiers, and two other past titlists, Argentina and England, also scored victories.

13.   Scotland, hosting fellow qualifier Denmark, wants to know if it has the players capable of finally reaching the second round after seven failures.

14.   South Africa carried two points into the second stage after its win over fellow qualifier India in Group games.

15.   Slovenia has fellow World Cup qualifiers Tunisia and is still without injured forward Sebastijan Cimerotic.

16.   That the team advanced to the second round seems more remarkable considering it hobbled into the Cup after several lopsided losses against fellow qualifiers and some second-rate club teams.

17.   The team will leave for New York City on Thursday for a game against fellow World Cup qualifier Scotland on Saturday at Giants Stadium.

18.   Under the rules, the top three teams from each group advance with the points their gained in round one against their fellow qualifiers.

19.   Zimbabwe, which took four points into the Super Six series after Group wins over fellow qualifiers South Africa and India, still leads the standings with five points.

20.   England face a thorough examination of their World Cup credentials when they take on fellow qualifiers Italy in an international friendly at Elland Road on Wednesday.