1.   They start with two warmup games in Cleveland.

2.   Absent was right back Slaven Bilic, who dropped out with a groin strain that has bothered him since a World Cup warmup game last month.

3.   Also Finland fielded a player omitted during the warmup games.

4.   Australian captain Brad Fittler said his team could have done with a warmup game.

5.   But he was injured in a warmup game against the Netherlands last week.

6.   Cameroon will play Germany, Saudia Arabia and Ireland in Japan, but will first play England and Denmark in other warmup games ahead of the World Cup.

7.   Devastating defeats and unimpressive victories in warmup games have sent expectations plunging in soccer-mad Mexico, which is accustomed to World Cup disappointments.

8.   Eager to get ready for the World Cup, Brazil is having trouble finding dates and adversaries for warmup games.

9.   Ecuador and Chile played to a scoreless draw in a warmup game for the Copa America tournament in Paraguay.

10.   Eriksson wants to use the remaining warmup games to see the other contenders in action.