WINNERS
PANAMA. The Canaleros first vied to reach a World Cup during qualification for the 1978 finals. In the last two campaigns their efforts ended at the semifinal round and their most acclaimed results were a 0-0 tie with Canada and a 1-0 loss in Mexico. Yesterday they tied the USA for their fourth point in three games to make Group 1 the mostly hotly contested group at the halfway stage of the semifinal round.
COBI JONES. At 34 the oldest field player in Bruce Arena's squad for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Panama, Jones scored his 15th U.S. goal in his 163rd U.S. game with a stoppage-time strike that earned the USA a 1-1 tie. Jones, who has played in three World Cups and has appeared in 29 qualifying games, debuted for the USA in September of 1992.
JAMAICA. With its backs against the wall, Jamaica started an attacking 4-3-3 formation — with Marlon King, Damani Ralph and Ricardo Fuller and came up with three goals in the first 39 minutes en route to a 3-0 win over El Salvador that revived the Reggae Boyz's World Cup qualifying campaign.
GUATEMALA. The Chapines' quest to reach the World Cup finals for the first time remained on a promising course as they tied, 2-2, on the road against Honduras, the homeland of Guatemala coach Ramon ''El Primitivo'' Maradiaga.
MARCO VAN BASTEN. The Netherlands, playing its first competitive match under new coach Marco Van Basten, served notice of its potential with a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic in Amsterdam, avenging a 3-2 loss to the Czechs at Euro 2004.
KEVIN KURANYI, who lived in Brazil until the age of 14, has made Juergen Klinsmann's start as Germany coach a success, scoring every German goal of Klinsmann's two-game-old tenure. After notching hat trick in a 3-1 win over Austria in August, Kuranyi, born in Rio de Janeiro to a German-Hungarian father and Panamanian mother, scored in Wednesday's friendly 1-1 tie with Brazil.
JERMAIN DEFOE. The 21-year-old Tottenham striker put England, reeling from an embarrassing tie with Austria, on the path to a 2-1 win over Poland. Defoe took a ball with his back to the goal before twisting past defender Jacek Krzynowek and rifling a shot into the far corner of the net.
LOSERS
CANADA. Four years ago, Canada was eliminated from World Cup contention after only four games of the semifinal round. History could repeat itself. Canada (one point in three games in Group 2) is all but dead after falling to Costa Rica, 1-0, in San Jose. The Ticos scored off the second-half kickoff when sub Paulo Wanchope caught the Canadian defense napping for the game's lone goal.
PATRICK VIEIRA. The Arsenal midfielder, installed as France captain after the international retirement of Marcel Desailly and Zinedine Zidane, was sent off during France's 2-0 win at the Faeroe Islands for picking up a second yellow card for diving. The red card means Vieira will be suspended for France's next qualifier, against Ireland.
SPAIN. Under new coach Luis Aragones, Spain remains winless in World Cup qualifying, following up last weekend's tie with Scotland with stalemate against Bosnia on Wednesday.