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The national team is once again missing from the World Cup finals, but a handful of stars will still be flying the flag for Scottish football in Germany.
Scotland manager Walter Smith and First Minister Jack McConnell fuelled the perennial debate about whether or not the Tartan Army should be backing traditional rivals England by saying their allegiances will lie elsewhere.
Wee Jose Quitongo missed out on creating one of the biggest-ever Cinderella stories, coming close to moving from the Partick Thistle bench to the World Cup finals after being invited to an Angola squad training camp.
Here BBC Sport highlights the Scottish connections in the other World Cup camps.
GROUP A
Ecuador
It seems incredible in today's financial climate that, just five years ago, Hibernian were able to pay Deportivo Universitaria £700,000 for Ulises de la Cruz. The Edinburgh club doubled their money when the right-back shone in his first season and won himself a move to Aston Villa. However, the 32-year-old has been a bit-part player this season for the Premiership side and Germany is likely to be his top-class swansong.
Poland
Celtic pair Artur Boruc and Maciej Zurawski have won their battle to start for Poland, who begin their campaign against Ecuador. Striker Zurawski at times lived up to his "magic" tag during a fine first season with the Scottish champions after signing from Wislaw Krakow. Boruc had some shaky moments under pressure after impressing initially on his arrival from Legia Warsaw but still managed to oust Liverpool's Jerzy Dudek as first-choice goalkeeper for his country. Qualifying behind Germany is likely to be the height of their World Cup ambitions.
GROUP B
Sweden
Henrik Larsson shot down the snipers who suggested he could not be a prolific scorer outside the Scottish Premier League. The veteran striker ended a fine two seasons with Barcelona by setting up both goals that defeated Arsenal in the Champions League final. Now Sweden will require his inspiration as they aim to put poor recent form behind them to qualify along with group favourites England.
Trinidad & Tobago
Scotland has to look to possibly the weakest side in the World Cup finals to find a plethora of Tartan connections.
It is a shame that renowned smoker Russell Latapy could not grace a finals before the age of 37, when even having enough puff for a full 90 minutes for Falkirk can prove a struggle. But the former Porto, Hibernian and Rangers midfielder still has a sublime touch and will be hoping for the chance to create the chances for friend and fellow party animal Dwight Yorke.
While Latapy has god-like status in his homeland, it is the God in the heavens who Marvin Andrews believes has permitted him to reach the pinnacle of a career that took off when he was plucked from obscurity by Raith Rovers in 1997. The central defender says his faith has allowed him to play on after refusing surgery on a cruciate knee ligament injury.
But he may need help from above as well as his undoubted power and enthusiasm to shackle the likes of Michael Owen and Larsson and prove his worth to new Rangers manager Paul Le Guen alongside former Dundee defender Brent Sancho, now with Gillingham.
Strikers Collin Samuel and Jason Scotland both displayed speed, power and inconsistency with Dundee United, leading to the latter spending last season with First Division St Johnstone. Both are likely to find themselves on the bench along with injury-troubled goalkeeper Kelvin Jack, who spent half the season second choice behind a 17-year-old at Dundee, and midfielder Densill Theobald, who has yet to make a single appearance during his season with Falkirk.
GROUP C
Holland
Just as Sweden will have the support of many Celtic fans via affection for Henrik Larsson, the Dutch will have the backing of many from the other side of Glasgow thanks, in part, to Giovanni van Bronckhorst. The 31-year-old spent three seasons in Rangers' midfield before conversion to left-back with Arsenal and Barcelona. He had a fine game against his former club in the Champions League final but will need to be in top form to help Holland progress from a tough group involving Argentina, the talented Serbia & Montenegro and dangerous newcomers Ivory Coast.
GROUP E
Czech Republic
Libor Sionko, signed by Rangers for next season from Austria Vienna, was a late call up in place of the injured Vladimir Smicer for the team ranked second in the world. Ibrox fans will be interested to see the quality of Paul Le Guen's first major signing as Rangers boss.
Italy
Rino Gattuso was inexplicably allowed to leave Rangers for AC Milan by Dick Advocaat, who had attempted to convert the terrier-like player into a full-back. He has since become a midfield mainstay with one of Italy's major clubs and for his country. He misses their World Cup opener against Ghana through injury but is expected to play a big part should Italy shrug off indifferent form and domestic football scandal to progress from a difficult group and beyond.
USA
Claudio Reyna was another successful export from Rangers, who paid Wolfsburg £2m before doubling their money when he headed for Sunderland two years later. The 32-year-old, now with Manchester City, will do well to steer his side and his own ageing legs through their group.
GROUP F
Australia
Old Firm fans also have reason to back the Aussies. Much of the Socceroos' hopes will rest on veteran striker Mark Viduka, who scored a barrowload of goals for Celtic before demanding a move to Middlesbrough. Former Rangers defender Craig Moore is part of a defence as creaky as his Newcastle one and unlikely to prevent the progress of Croatia or Japan along with favourites Brazil.
Croatia
The charismatic Dado Prso will shrug off continuing knee problems to skilfully carry the Croatia attack, just as he did all season for Rangers. Celtic fans will also be watching closely Hajduk Split midfielder Niko Kranjcar, who the Scottish champions are still attempting to sign and whose inclusion has led to unrest in the Croatia camp. Kranjcar's father, Zlatko, is the national coach and has been accused of nepotism for choosing his son.
Japan
Reports suggest that midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura wants to leave Celtic after just one, championship-winning season following his move from Reggina. Spanish outfit Sevilla are said to be among those monitoring his World Cup performance. Meanwhile, Hearts have been linked with Urawa Reds midfielder Shinji Ono, who along with Nakamura could help Japan qualify from the group.
GROUP G
France
The signing of Jean-Alain Boumsong was one of Rangers' most profitable, signing the defender for free on a pre-contract from Auxerre before selling him six months later to Newcastle for £8m. The 27-year-old has had an erratic, confidence-sapping time with the English club but remains an important part of a side capable of winning the World Cup.
South Korea
Former Rangers manager Dick Advocaat will do well to repeat South Korea's progress to the semi-finals in 2002. They are likely to vie with Switzerland for second spot behind France and Hearts fans will be looking out for Duisburg striker Ahn Jung-hwan, who is a summer target for the Edinburgh club.
Togo
Skilful but gangly midfielder Sheriff Toure Mamam, now with Metz in France, spent a short, virtually anonymous spell with Livingston - and Togo are expected to make a similar swift exit from the World Cup.
GROUP H
Tunisia
Rangers midfielder Hamed Namouchi has recovered from injury to make the World Cup squad but still lacks match fitness according to his national coach. The 22-year-old has been a source of frustration to many Rangers fans since his move from Cannes in 2003, but outgoing manager Alex McLeish saw Namouchi as an important part of his Champions League line-up. Namouchi will hope to impress McLeish's replacement, Paul Le Guen, but is likely to have just three matches to do it, with Ukraine and Spain favourites to progress.
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