Established England regulars like centre-back Rio Ferdinand and goalkeeper David James will not go to the World Cup finals next year unless they have been playing regularly and are fit, England coach Fabio Capello has said.
The Italian said the rule applied to every player including Manchester United's Ferdinand, who he described as one of the best centre-backs in the world.
Both Ferdinand and James have missed matches recently because of injuries and unlike England coaches of the past, Capello said he would not consider taking anyone with an injury.
"The players that will be with us in South Africa will be all fit," Capello said. "If you go to South Africa and try to recover there, it will be no good.
"It will not be warm which makes it easier to recover. It will be cold in South Africa for the World Cup.
"It's impossible to wait for a player. Little injuries, okay, but anyone suffering bigger problems, they will not be there.
"Rio is absolutely one of the best centre-backs in the world. As a player I have no worries about him. But he needs to be really fit and playing every game.
"Right now he has some problems with his back and he has to train more."
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson included David Beckham in the 2002 squad and Wayne Rooney in 2006 when both were recovering from broken bones in their feet, but Capello will not tolerate the same leniency next year.
For that reason, Tottenham Hotspur captain Ledley King, who is battling a long-term knee injury and only trains once a week, will not go to the World Cup and a doubt remains over James, England's first-choice goalkeeper.
"We have spoken about King and it is impossible for him to come with us," Capello said. "He trains only on a Friday to play on a Saturday.
"We are following David James. He's playing well but his problem is he can't train two days running. It's a problem we have to decide, but we have time."
Capello added that Saturday's friendly against Brazil in Doha will act as a good barometer as he begins to fine-tune his preparations for the finals.
"The match will be important for us to understand where we are. We will be against players who are at a really high level. They will pose the sort of problems we will have to face at the World Cup."
Not surprisingly, he ranked Brazil as one of the favourites.
"When they started their qualification they had some problems but step by step they have improved," Capello said.
"They are strong, defending well and dangerous with their forwards and their movement without the ball."