31.   Missing from the drills were key central defender Linval Dixon, and defenders Frank Sinclair and Steve Malcom.

32.   Next time, though, Croatia will be deprived of key central defender Zvonimir Soldo, who will be suspended after getting his second booking of the tournament.

33.   On Wednesday, the Czech Republic will miss two key defenders.

34.   Roma played without suspended striker Francesco Totti and key defenders Cafu and Aldair, who are with the Brazilian national team in Saudi Arabia.

35.   Roland Nilsson, a key defender for Helsingborg, was selected Sunday as Player of the Year in Swedish soccer.

36.   Senegal studied its tactical options Friday for overcoming two suspensions and the likely omission of a key defender in a second-round World Cup match against Sweden.

37.   Striker Emerson and key defender Carlos Secretario also left.

38.   Sinisa Mihajlovic, a key defender playing for Sampdoria in Italy, is likely to miss the game because of a muscle injury.

39.   Stuttgart was without key defenders Frank Verlaat and Martin Spanring, both suspended.

40.   Star striker Christian Vieri is again sidelined with a nagging heel problem, while key defender Alessandor Nesta is out with thigh injury.