Zidane to join star attractions at 2006 World Cup

A missed penalty means Samuel Eto'o will sit out the World Cup but there is abundant compensation for fans with the prospect of a last chance to see Zinedine Zidane on the game's biggest stage.

Jon Dahl Tomasson, Roy Keane and Theodoros Zagorakis, player of the tournament at Euro 2004, were disappointed on Wednesday when Denmark, Ireland and European champions Greece lost the race for places in Germany.

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 Bild newspaper in welcoming Zidane and Thierry Henry to the tournament.

"On the last match day in Europe France snatched a place in our World Cup."

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 France squeezing through, the biggest casualties in Europe were Greece, while Spain, the Czech Republic and Turkey are all still worried after being forced into the playoffs along with Norway, Slovakia and Switzerland.

"Greece is a hardship case and more shocks will be coming," Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann said. "It's a blow for the whole country after Euro 2004 and personally I'm very sorry."

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.

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. Bahrain have now made the playoff spot.

Japan, coached by former Brazilian great Zico, played with great skill at the Confederations Cup in Germany this year and it will be a delight to see playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura again.

Iran's Ali Karimi, now with Bayern Munich, will be another player to watch on "home" territory.

The U.S., Mexico and Costa Rica clinched places from the CONCACAF zone, while Ecuador and Paraguay have joined Brazil and Argentina in South America.

The other European teams to qualify are Italy, Sweden, Serbia & Montenegro, Poland and Croatia, as well as hosts Germany, who have a brilliant young striker in Lukas Podolski.

Perhaps the most eagerly watched player will be a shy teenager who endured a miserable international debut for Argentina.

Messi was sent off less than two minutes after coming on against Hungary but after another brief substitute appearance he gave a glimpse of the future in leading his side to a 2-0 win over Peru.

The 18-year-old Barcelona forward has been hailed as a jewel by coach Jose Pekerman, and as a successor to Diego Maradona by almost everyone else.

Watching his attempts to fulfil that promise should make compelling viewing in Germany next year.