The World Cup is football's premier competition showcasing the best footballers on the planet. So how can it be that the biggest tournament in the world could be missing Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o, arguably three of the best players in the world?!
Have a look at the footballers likely to miss out, and those likely to go to the 2010 World Cup, and let us know who you'd rather see. Is it time they changed the format for World Cup Qualifying?
Three of the most exciting players on the planet, who regularly turn in electric performances. Ronaldo, Messi and Eto'o are the players the respective boot brands would have liked to use to debut their new football boots or colourways?
CRISTIANO RONALDO
Nike Mercurial Superfly football boots
Apparently Cristiano Ronaldo is the best footballer in the world, and he wears the innovative Nike Superfly football boots to help him perform. But, his Portugal side are currently fourth in their qualifying group and need to win their remaining three games, and rely on other results to qualify.
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LIONEL MESSI
adidas F50i Messi TUNiT football boots
Lionel Messi is such a good player that adidas have released his own brand of F50i football boots. But he will need to provide the 'spark' for his national side following their home defeat to Brazil, as Argentina are fourth in their group, but their fate is in their own hands.
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SAMUEL ETO'O
Puma v1.08 football boots
Puma would have been looking to Eto'o to wear the new v1.10 football boots at the World Cup, and turn in an excellent performance like he did in the Champions League final. Unfortunately, Cameroon are third in their group of four with only the top team qualifying, but with three games left they could turn it round.
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No disrespect to any of these players because they are good professionals, but are they going to set the tournament alight and entertain the crowds with match-winning displays?
RYAN NELSON
Nike T90 Laser II football boots
Captain of New Zealand Ryan Nelson is a powerful defender, which is why he wears Nike's power football boots. Surely at the World Cup his New Zealand side will be doing more defending than attacking, but good performances have seen them top the Oceania qualifying group.
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PARK JI-SUNG
Nike Tiempo Legend III football boots
Park is one of the players charged with filling the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United, but would the South Korean be able to do the same at the World Cup? To Park's credit, he is an effective player on the pitch who has a relentless work-rate in his new Nike Legend III football boots.
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WORLD CUP QUALIFYING ALLOWS THE 'SO-CALLED' LESSER NATIONS TO QUALIFY FOR THE TOURNAMENT, BUT IF THIS MEANS MISSING OUT ON WATCHING THE MOST EXCITING PLAYERS IN THE WORLD, IS IT TIME FOR CHANGE? WHAT'S YOUR OPINION...