41.   With Newcastle reeling from the loss of England strikers Alan Shearer and Les Ferdinand, the Monegasques go into the tie as clear favourites.

42.   Italy is at the forefront of EU and OSCE bids to solve the Albanian crisis due to its traditional ties as a neighbor across the Adriatic Sea.

43.   Russian coach Shamil Tarpishev was economical with his congratulations for South Africa, saying that his team were had gone into th e tie as underdogs.