No Tartan Army, no cuddly craicsters from Oirland with another 'pyoor speshul ralayshunship' so no Robbie Bhoy and no Wee Aids (thank you Thierry Henry!) How will the World Cup get by without such major players on the big stage?
And quite a few big tournament regulars from recent years will also be on the outside looking in. No Russia means no Zhirkov, no Puvulychenko and no Arshavin, no Croatia means no Luka Modric, no Sweden means no Ibrahimovic and no umpteeth international comeback for Larsson, no Czech Republic means no Petr Cech and no Poland means no Boruc (GIRUY!).
In additIon to those who have failed to make it through the qualifiers, quite a few of the game's big name stars have been axed by their national teams as the big kick-off draws near.
Despite their outstanding contribution to Inter Milan's Champions League triumph, Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso have been left out of Diego Maradona's Argentinian squad. Argentina must be a team and a half if they can afford to disregard such talent. Or maybe the wee fella has been dabbling in the white powder again!!!
And I was astonished to learn that Dunga has decided Ronaldinho is surplus to Brazil's requirements. Maybe Ronnie isn't the player he once was but he still has that extra special touch which can turn a game which might be getting bogged down. Adriano is another Brazilian who won't be strutting his stuff in South Africa but, with the likes of Kaka, Robinho and Luis Fabiano around, Brazil ain't likely to be short of magic to light up any dour struggle.
Michael Ballack's absence from the German squad was not entirely unexpected. Coach Joachim Loew has learned to do without the injury-hit Chelsea star and Bastian Schweinsteiger has emerged as their leader and stepped into the central midfield role, with the flair of Sami Khedira earmarked to supply some Ballack-like touches.
Patrick Vieira was far from impressed by Raymond Domenech's decision to leave him out of the French squad. Maybe the French coach checked out his horoscope again! But having just had a less than impressive season, Vieira can hardly have been too surprised. If I remember correctly, I pointed out that Euro 2008 was one tournament too many for a number of their stars and Vieira certainly comes into that category. But I just can't get my head around Domeneche's decision to go to South Africa without Karim Benzema.
And Gary Neville had a bit of a whinge about Fabio Capello only including one recognised right-back in the England squad. But if Capello had selected half-a-dozen right-backs, Neville would still struggle to be included. Theo Walcott's omission from the squad was more of a shock - his pace alone scares the shit out of most defenders! - but he was a surprise choice four years ago so maybe his luck is just evening itself out. Never mind, Theo, having the summer off won't do your golf handicap any harm!
Untimely injury has kept Chelsea's Michael Essien out of the Ghana squad, Lassana Diarra misses out for France and how about this for a shocker. Without a sniff of a goal in 17 internationals, Scott McDonald has been dismissed as a waste of space by Australia, leaving the Socceroos struggling in an area where Kewell and Viduka once looked the part.
Here's hoping that, for every 'absent friend', there is a new star ready to burst onto the scene to take the World Cup by storm.
Tomorrow: SOUTH AMERICAN AMBITION. Brazil ain't the only standard bearers for South America.