XSL hold, compare, and replace param value

I have a problem holding on to a param or variable value in xslt.
Setting it Globally or Locally.

How can I hold onto the country value? Compare to the next value, if
country is diff. then replace the value for that param with the next
country value?

Any help would be much appreciated.  Ive read all the solutions and
tried diff. ways but no cigar.

Thank You
Steve

Sample XML file
<report>
      <column>name</column>
      <column>country</column>
      <column>group</column>
      <table>
              <date>07-13-2006
                      <group type="AAA">111111
                              <entry>
                                      <name>Adel</name>
                                      <country>USA</country>
                                      <id>12345</id>
                              </entry>
                              <entry>
                                      <name>Barry</name>
                                      <country>USA</country>
                                      <id>12346</id>
                              </entry>
                              <entry>
                                      <name>Carl</name>
                                      <country>USA</country>
                                      <id>12347</id>
                              </entry>
                      </group>
                      <group type="BBB">111111
                              <entry>
                                      <name>Dave</name>
                                      <country>USA</country>
                                      <id>12345</id>
                              </entry>
                              <entry>
                                      <name>Ethel</name>
                                      <country>USA</country>
                                      <id>12346</id>
                              </entry>
                              <entry>
                                      <name>Fred</name>
                                      <country>USA</country>
                                      <id>12347</id>
                              </entry>
                      </group>
                      <group type="CCC">111111
                              <entry>
                                      <name>George</name>
                                      <country>EUR</country>
                                      <id>24567</id>
                              </entry>
                              <entry>
                                      <name>Harold</name>
                                      <country>EUR</country>
                                      <id>23458</id>
                              </entry>
                              <entry>
                                      <name>Jennifer</name>
                                      <country>EUR</country>
                                      <id>23459</id>
                              </entry>
                      </group>
              </date>
      </table>
</report>