Kevin-Prince Boateng is determined to make Ghana's loss Portsmouth's gain.
Boateng - who qualifies for the Black Stars through his father - was not selected for their African Nations Cup squad and so will remain in England to help Pompey's survival battle, which continues at Fratton Park on Wednesday night against Barclays Premier League title challengers Arsenal.
"Obviously it would have been an unbelievable thing for me to play African Nations for Ghana - but it looks now like I will not go," said Boateng, who was born in Germany and had represented them at Under-21 level.
"Still, I am just happy to play for Portsmouth and try to keep them up, so both ways I would be happy."
The former Tottenham midfielder, 22, believes if he can continue to produce the goods for Pompey, then there is no reason why he could not be on the plane to the World Cup next summer.
He added: "Ghana is 100% my future, though. I want to play for the Black Stars.
"In the meantime, I am concentrating on Portsmouth and we have got to keep going and playing football.
"If we stay up I think there is a big chance for me to go to the World Cup."
Source: PA
