Messi headlines new wave at WC ’06

They join Cameroon’s Eto’o, the African Player of the Year, on a growing list of world class players who will be missing when the tournament kicks off on June 9 in Munich next year. But France’s 4-0 victory over Cyprus secured a place for the 1998 world champions, providing good news for lucky ticket-holders and millions of TV viewing fans.

‘‘It was a blue wonder’’, said Germany’s top selling newspaper Bild in welcoming Zidane and Thierry Henry to the tournament. Barring injury, all the star attractions will be present. Ronaldo and Ronaldinho should inspire five-times champions Brazil, Luis Figo may yet lead Portugal to glory or perhaps an exciting youngster like Lionel Messi of Argentina or England’s Wayne Rooney will set the tournament alight.

Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko will appear at a World Cup for the first time, David Beckham’s presence will delight FIFA’s marketing department as well as England fans and Rafael van der Vaart threatens to run riot with a fantastic Dutch team.

With 27 of the 32 places at the World Cup now decided, Eto’o remains the highest profile absentee. The African Player of the Year saw his Cameroon side miss out on qualifying to Ivory Coast when Pierre Wome failed with an injury-time penalty against Egypt.

The explosive forward was the inspiration for Barcelona’s title-winning campaign in Spain last season and he will be sorely missed. African qualification brought other surprises, with Ivory Coast joined by Togo, Ghana, Angola and a Tunisia side coached by Roger Lemerre, who led France at the last World Cup.

That will give a stage to Michael Essien, the Ghana midfielder who cost Chelsea 38 million euros ($45.52 million), and his club teammate Didier drogba (Ivory Coast).

The qualifying picture in Asia has been clear for a while, with South Korea and Japan, the co-hosts in 2002, joined by Iran and Saudi Arabia.