71.  He said he still doubted whether to play one or two strikers or go for two defensive midfielders.

72.  Helmer is one of the team leaders who can play as a central defender, a defensive midfielder, or even as a libero.

73.  High-scoring midfielder Michael Ballack is returning for Leverkusen, which will be missing suspended defensive midfielder Carsten Ramelow.

74.  Instead of fielding just one defensive midfielder as he did against the Americans, Oliveira is expected to pick Paulo Bento alongside Armando Petit in front of the defense.

75.  Instead, defensive midfielder Franky Van der Elst will see action in his fourth successive World Cup.

76.  In their final preparations for the World Cup, the Americans also lost Chris Armas, their best defensive midfielder.

77.  Just a few minutes before, German coach Rudi Voeller decided to bolster his attack and took defensive midfielder Jens Jeremies off, sending in forward Gerald Asamoah.

78.  Jeremies, a hard-nosed defensive midfielder, underwent two knee operations in the summer that threatened his career.

79.  Kim, a defensive midfielder, was replaced in the first half after a clash with defender Enrique Romero during the quarterfinal match against Spain.

80.  Just a few minutes before the second goal, Voeller had decided to bolster his attack and took defensive midfielder Jens Jeremies off, sending in forward Gerald Asamoah.