11.   Lazio doctors on Wednesday called groundless alarmism published reports that the comeback of English midfield star Paul Gascoigne is being jeopardized by a slow-healing knee injury.

12.   Midfield star Zinedine Zidane was expected to undergo a training session that will determine whether he has recovered from a thigh injury and can play against Denmark on Tuesday.

13.   Midfield star Anders Limpar, who plays for Everton in England, declined to play.

14.   On other issues, Kenyon said further contract talks were held this month with midfield star David Beckham and the club remains hopeful he will sign a new deal.

15.   Still, midfield star Michael Ballack is convinced his teammates will have enough left for the stretch run to its surprisingly fine season.

16.   Sweden finished first in the Group of Death, sending Argentina and Nigeria packing, and is expected to recover midfield star Fredrik Ljungberg for the game against Senegal.

17.   The daily newspaper said Senegal pressed harder in the second half and the Swedish squad was hurt by the absence of injured midfield star Fredrik Ljungberg.

18.   The system was undermined by the absence of midfield star Zinedine Zidane, who missed the first two matches because of a thigh injury.

19.   Two minutes later Asprilla tallied his second goal on a fast counterattack led by Zola, a midfield star of the Italian national team.

20.   Zinedine Zidane and Patrick Vieira remain the midfield stars, while Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet are a potent strikeforce.