The story of the 2014 World Cup will inevitably be written without one of the best players in Europe after Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal and Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Sweden do battle for a playoff berth.
Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic are both in scintillating form ahead of the two-legged qualifying playoff but only one of their teams will end up in Brazil next year.
Both men scored hat-tricks at the weekend: Ronaldo in Real Madrid's 5-1 rout of Real Sociedad and the Swede netting all of Paris St Germain's goals in a 3-1 victory over Nice.
"We are talking about two world-class stars, living an excellent moment," said Portugal winger Silvestre Varela ahead of Friday's first leg at Lisbon's Luz stadium (1945 GMT).
Portugal captain Ronaldo tops La Liga's best scorers' list with 16 goals while Ibrahimovic, with eight, is one behind Ligue 1 top marksmen Radamel Falcao and Edinson Cavani.
Ronaldo, 28, and Ibrahimovic, 32, are under pressure to deliver again on Friday, and in next Tuesday's return fixture in Stockholm, and Sweden coach Erik Hamren said his money was on his own man.
"I have Zlatan as number one, as he's my player," Hamren told reporters as the squad gathered in Stockholm ahead of the first leg.
"But Ronaldo is a very good footballer. You can keep an eye on him for 85 minutes and then he'll score two goals from nothing."
The same could be said of Hamren's captain Ibrahimovic, who picked up a seventh straight gold ball, the prize awarded to Sweden's best player, in the Swedish capital on Monday.
Portugal coach Paulo Bento said Sweden were difficult opponents.
"They are taller than us and physically strong, not just in set pieces but also through their direct football that feeds two tall, top-quality players," he said, referring to Ibrahimovic and Johan Elmander.
"It's up to us to make the match suit the characteristics of our players."
Bento also praised the resilience of the Scandinavians.
"Sweden were losing to Ireland, Germany and Austria and never gave up. They always keep their competitive edge going, no matter what".
The Swedes eventually lost to Germany in a 5-3 thriller despite a fightback but did manage 2-1 comeback wins in the Ireland and Austria qualifiers to finish second in Group C and earn a playoff spot.
Meanwhile, France need to play without fear in their World Cup playoff against Ukraine to avoid the fate that befell the team 20 years ago when a last-gasp home defeat by Bulgaria cost them a place at the 1994 finals.
That was the last time France failed to qualify for a major tournament and Didier Deschamp's men will hope Friday's first leg in Ukraine gives them the opportunity to go into the return at the Stade de France in a calm state of mind.
Four years ago they had to rely on Thierry Henry's infamous handball to see off Ireland in a World Cup playoff and they will be determined not to cut it that close this time.
"We need a good away result so we can deal with the return leg," said Franck Ribery, who has scored six and set up nine of France's last 24 goals.
"These (playoff) games are special. They are surrounded by a difficult context. We need to play without pressure. We should not be afraid," he added.
The Bulgaria defeat in a group game on Nov. 17, 1993, when Emil Kostadinov's last-minute goal earned a 2-1 win at the Parc des Princes, will never be forgotten by the French.
Deschamps played in that match and probably had that evening in mind when he locked down France's Clairefontaine training centre from Tuesday onwards.
"We must avoid the febrility and anxiety that can harm our performance," he said.
The younger players, however, are less bothered by the ghosts of that match.
"France v Bulgaria? No, it doesn't remind me of anything," said Paul Pogba, who was eight months old when David Ginola's poor free kick led to Kostadinov's goal.
"I don't think about it for a minute," added midfielder Blaise Matuidi.
FORGET PAST
Ukrainewill also be looking to forget the past as they participate in a fourth World Cup playoff tie having failed in their three previous attempts.
"We are trying to keep our players away from the past. To know the reasons for those failures, you had to be there," said Ukraine coach Mykhaylo Fomenko.
Ukrainefailed to qualify for the World Cup finals via the playoffs in 1998, 2002 and 2010, being knocked out by Croatia, Germany and Greece respectively.
An elimination against Slovenia in a Euro 2000 playoff makes the streak even more miserable.
Eight Ukraine players go into the home game with the threat of missing the return leg in Paris if booked.
"Football gets more and more aggressive, resulting in a good deal of yellow cards in games like this," said Fomenko.
"I discuss this issue with players. But sometimes it is hard to resist your emotions", added Fomenko who says he knows how to defeat France, a team they have never beaten in seven games.
"Of course I have the recipe," he said.
France, like Ukraine, should be at full strength with Karim Benzema having rediscovered his scoring touch with two goals in the last two games - a 6-0 friendly win over Australia and a 3-0 victory against Finland in their final World Cup qualifier.
The only concern could be in central defence, with Eric Abidal having looked a bit off the pace lately in Ligue 1, especially as Ukraine like to counter attack.
