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United unscathed
Not that Sir Alex Ferguson will be moaning. Manchester United FC are one of only five of England's 20 top-flight sides largely unaffected by the tournament, which runs between 20 January and 10 February. Even they will have to wait before fans can welcome striker Manucho to Old Trafford. The Angolan international, who is expected to complete his transfer this month, is only likely to join up with United when his country's involvement in the tournament is over. Sir Alex will be looking to capitalise as United's principal title rivals Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC face up to significant losses. The Gunners will take a hit, with Kolo Touré and Emmanuel Eboué both in the reckoning for Ivory Coast, while youngster Alexandre Song is in the Cameroon squad.
Chelsea hit
Arsène Wenger will at least be able to call on Emmanuel Adebayor after a 2-0 defeat by Mali in September meant Togo failed to qualify. Wenger's gain will be Rafael Benítez's loss as Liverpool FC's Malian midfielder Mohamed Sissoko should be on duty with the likes of Sevilla FC striker Frédéric Kanouté and Real Madrid CF's Mahamadou Diarra. Yet it is Chelsea that could be hit hardest. Avram Grant's charges have won six of their last eight Premier League outings, but could struggle to continue that fine run with Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel, Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba missing for as many as seven matches in all competitions. That includes the 10 February meeting with Liverpool should any of those players reach the final.
Escapees
The mass departure could lead to teams raiding the transfer market, with Grant said to be eyeing up a possible move for Nicolas Anelka. Not every team, though, has Chelsea's ability to paper over the cracks with big money. The likes of high-flying Portsmouth FC could be hit hard by the absence of key quintet Papa Bouba Diop, John Utaka, Nwankwo Kanu, Lauren and Sulley Muntari. Indeed, of the 20 Premier League sides, only Aston Villa FC, Manchester City FC, Derby County FC and Fulham FC are expected to have nobody travelling to Ghana, assuming Manucho's move to United goes through. For the first time England's losses could even eclipse those of France, traditionally home to so many African players.