21.  Argentina, which easily won the South American qualifying group, is the pre-tournament favorite.

22.  At the time, the team was last in its qualifying group having already lost at home to Germany.

23.  Australia has lobbied for more than a decade to gain direct acceptance into the World Cup for its Oceania qualifying group.

24.  Austria solidified its World Cup qualifying chances in the drizzling rain to vault back over Scotland and into the lead of their qualifying group.

25.  Belgium finished second in its qualifying group behind Croatia, while the Czech Republic was runner-up to Denmark.

26.  Belgium and Croatia met in the qualifying group for the upcoming World Cup and both qualified.

27.  Both took their qualifying groups Wednesday and head into the short program on Friday tied.

28.  Brazil is in fourth place in the South American qualifying group, trailing Argentina, Paraguay and Ecuador.

29.  Both countries were runners-up of European qualifying groups.

30.  Both finished runners-up in their European qualifying groups, pitting them against each other in a two-leg playoff for another chance.