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IT'S an accepted part of football that one manager's loss is another's gain.
In the case of the African Cup of Nations next January, however, that maxim could hardly have more resonance.
The losers are easy enough to identify. Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti will see four key players leave on international duty for up to a month.
Didier Drogba, John Obi Mikel, Michael Essien and Salomon Kalou will all travel to Angola for the biennial event.
Arsene Wenger, Mark Hughes and Harry Redknapp will also lose players, as will almost every big club across Europe.
But it's not just domestic football managers who will feel the pain. Spare a thought for Fabio Capello.
Why? Well, if you were preparing for the World Cup finals in South Africa next summer wouldn't you fancy a dress rehearsal first?
After last weekend's friendly against Brazil ended in defeat and general shambles, England have just three friendlies left before their bid to rule the world begins for real.
Compare that to the teams competing in Africa at the turn of the year. Not only do they get almost a month to train and play together - they do so in a tournament environment and in a format very similar to the World Cup, with the pride at stake so great that a fierce competition is guaranteed.
And if all that hasn't got Capello green with envy already, it takes place just over a thousand miles from South Africa in a similar climate and environment.
None of these advantages has been lost on the African sides who will use the ANC as a springboard to their World Cup campaigns.
Speaking last weekend, Drogba admitted his disappointment at the prospect of missing an important segment of Chelsea's season, but pointed to the advantages for the national team he captains.
"People in Europe may see the Nations Cup as an inconvenience because African players miss some matches in the middle of the season," Drogba told Inside View.
"I understand that because I play at a big club like Chelsea and we have a lot of important matches then. The authorities are looking into that, but for the moment we have to focus on the tournament and what we can achieve with our national team.
"It's happening and maybe, just maybe, we can use the fact we have almost a month together in a tournament situation to our advantage.
"After all, only the African teams who have qualified for the World Cup will get together and compete in such an intense way ahead of the tournament.
"The finals are in Africa for the first time in history, so there cannot be any more inspiration for African footballers to grasp the opportunity and perform at their best."
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At the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan last weekend, the optimism of Ivory Coast players and fans reached fever pitch.
"We believe, we believe, we believe, we believe," they sang in unison after thumping Guinea 3-0 in their final qualification match.
The message was loud and clear, with a few serious voices among those chanting. They included those of Drogba (winner of two Premier League titles, two FA Cups, two Carling Cups and a Champions League runner-up); Yaya Toure (a La Liga title, Champions League winner, Copa Del Rey champion); Kolo Toure (one Premier League title, two FA Cups, a Champions League runner-up); and Kalou (two FA Cups, one League Cup).
And that is without Emmanuel Eboue, Aruna Dindane, Keita and Gervinho. The players celebrated their place at the World Cup finals and there is real belief in the Ivory Coast they can win the most famous trophy in football.
No African side has ever gone beyond the quarter-final stage of the tournament. But under the guidance of former PSG coach, Vahid Halihodzic, the expectation of the fanatical Ivorian support goes beyond the African Cup of Nations.
And if any of the continent's teams has a genuine chance of providing a fairytale finish to the World Cup's first visit to Africa, then it is the Ivory Coast.
With a second successive qualification for the finals and with form in both their group campaign and ANC behind them, Les Elephants are the outside bet that the bookies reckon could keep pace with the favourites next summer.
Other contenders include Ghana, whose sublimely-talented Under-20 side claimed the FIFA World Championship last month.
Nigeria and Cameroon are strong and gifted, while the winner of the Egypt v Algeria play-off will also carry a threat.
So while the likes of Ancelotti rues the absence of his African stars in January, spare a thought for Capello, too.
It's not just English clubs who are disadvantaged by the ANC, it's England as well
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/sunsport_columnists/2734636/Why-Didier-Drogba-can-win-World-Cup.html#ixzz0Xzx3eAIR
In the case of the African Cup of Nations next January, however, that maxim could hardly have more resonance.
The losers are easy enough to identify. Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti will see four key players leave on international duty for up to a month.
Didier Drogba, John Obi Mikel, Michael Essien and Salomon Kalou will all travel to Angola for the biennial event.
Arsene Wenger, Mark Hughes and Harry Redknapp will also lose players, as will almost every big club across Europe.
But it's not just domestic football managers who will feel the pain. Spare a thought for Fabio Capello.
Why? Well, if you were preparing for the World Cup finals in South Africa next summer wouldn't you fancy a dress rehearsal first?
After last weekend's friendly against Brazil ended in defeat and general shambles, England have just three friendlies left before their bid to rule the world begins for real.
Compare that to the teams competing in Africa at the turn of the year. Not only do they get almost a month to train and play together - they do so in a tournament environment and in a format very similar to the World Cup, with the pride at stake so great that a fierce competition is guaranteed.
And if all that hasn't got Capello green with envy already, it takes place just over a thousand miles from South Africa in a similar climate and environment.
None of these advantages has been lost on the African sides who will use the ANC as a springboard to their World Cup campaigns.
Speaking last weekend, Drogba admitted his disappointment at the prospect of missing an important segment of Chelsea's season, but pointed to the advantages for the national team he captains.
"People in Europe may see the Nations Cup as an inconvenience because African players miss some matches in the middle of the season," Drogba told Inside View.
"I understand that because I play at a big club like Chelsea and we have a lot of important matches then. The authorities are looking into that, but for the moment we have to focus on the tournament and what we can achieve with our national team.
"It's happening and maybe, just maybe, we can use the fact we have almost a month together in a tournament situation to our advantage.
"After all, only the African teams who have qualified for the World Cup will get together and compete in such an intense way ahead of the tournament.
"The finals are in Africa for the first time in history, so there cannot be any more inspiration for African footballers to grasp the opportunity and perform at their best."
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At the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan last weekend, the optimism of Ivory Coast players and fans reached fever pitch.
"We believe, we believe, we believe, we believe," they sang in unison after thumping Guinea 3-0 in their final qualification match.
The message was loud and clear, with a few serious voices among those chanting. They included those of Drogba (winner of two Premier League titles, two FA Cups, two Carling Cups and a Champions League runner-up); Yaya Toure (a La Liga title, Champions League winner, Copa Del Rey champion); Kolo Toure (one Premier League title, two FA Cups, a Champions League runner-up); and Kalou (two FA Cups, one League Cup).
And that is without Emmanuel Eboue, Aruna Dindane, Keita and Gervinho. The players celebrated their place at the World Cup finals and there is real belief in the Ivory Coast they can win the most famous trophy in football.
No African side has ever gone beyond the quarter-final stage of the tournament. But under the guidance of former PSG coach, Vahid Halihodzic, the expectation of the fanatical Ivorian support goes beyond the African Cup of Nations.
And if any of the continent's teams has a genuine chance of providing a fairytale finish to the World Cup's first visit to Africa, then it is the Ivory Coast.
With a second successive qualification for the finals and with form in both their group campaign and ANC behind them, Les Elephants are the outside bet that the bookies reckon could keep pace with the favourites next summer.
Other contenders include Ghana, whose sublimely-talented Under-20 side claimed the FIFA World Championship last month.
Nigeria and Cameroon are strong and gifted, while the winner of the Egypt v Algeria play-off will also carry a threat.
So while the likes of Ancelotti rues the absence of his African stars in January, spare a thought for Capello, too.
It's not just English clubs who are disadvantaged by the ANC, it's England as well
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/sunsport_columnists/2734636/Why-Didier-Drogba-can-win-World-Cup.html#ixzz0Xzx3eAIR