1.  Scotland have taken only two points from their first three games in their qualifying group and trail Switzerland, Italy and Portugal.

2.  Bora Milutinovic is under pressure in Mexico despite winning the regional qualifying group.

3.  But Italy finished second to the resurgent England in their qualifying group, forcing this home-and-away playoff.

4.  Croatia appears especially threatening after winning its European Championship qualifying group ahead of Italy.

5.  He led Mexico to the top of the regional qualifying group and a berth in the finals this summer in France.

6.  Italy finished second to resurgent England in the qualifying group, forcing this home-and-away playoff with Russia.

7.  So it was incomprehensible to their legion of orange-faced followers that Holland would finish behind both the Portuguese and Irish in their qualifying group.

8.  The Americans are tied with Canada and Jamaica for third place in the six-team CONCACAF World Cup qualifying group behind Mexico and Costa Rica.

9.  The qualifying group includes Costa Rica, Jamaica and El Salvador.

10.  They did not win their qualifying group last year.