World Cup missing XI
WITH the World Cup having only 32 countries, and with each coach having only 23 slots in their teams, there are a host of players who will not grace the biggest show on earth that starts on Thursday – either because they have been omitted or did not qualify for the tournament. Here are the best X1 plus subs that will not take the field in Russia.
Gianluigi Buffon
Italy is perhaps the most prominent victim of this qualification cycle. The Azzurri failed to overcome Sweden in their playoffs, and as a result, long-standing legendary keeper Gianluigi Buffon could not take part in what would have been his fifth World Cup this summer. With a total of 175 caps for his country, Buffon is a living legend in Italian football, and also will no longer play for Italy.
David Alaba
Bayern Munich’s leftback David Alaba will miss the World Cup after a disastrous World Cup qualification campaign for Austria. Drawn into a group that included Wales and Serbia, Austria struggled and failed to reach one of the top two places. For Alaba, this means that he continues to wait to take part in his first ever World Cup.
Leonardo Bonucci
Definitely one of the best defenders in world football, Leonardo Bonucci’s defensive abilities wi l l b e mi s s e d in Russia. He moved from Juventus to AC Milan last summer after a conflict with Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri. Although his s e a s o n wi t h Milan did not go as planned, h i s commit ment to his nation can’t be questioned. This was high lighted after he played with a broken nose in Italy’s the World Cup playoff defeat to Sweden.
Eric Bailly
Signed from Villarreal last summer, Eric Bailly won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with his country and also inspired Manchester United to their Europa Cup victory in the 2016/2017 season. Was out injured for Manchester United and when he he came back, fell out of favour with Jose Mourinho.
Antonio Valencia
Probably one of the few players who deserve to wear the
The 25-yearold midfielder Marco Verratti is and will still be one of the most soughtafter players on the transfer market. Last season, PSG resisted offers from the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona to hang on to the midfielder. Considered one of the best playmakers in the world game today, Verratti has often been compared with Barca’s legend Xavi and the World Cup will be slightly dimmer without his skills on display.
Radja Nainggolan
A player covered from neck to toe in tattoos, he smokes, drinks and swears; carries a dubious reputation for indiscipline and is a hell-raiser in general. While off-field trouble is never far away from him, on-field he causes a lot of mayhem to the opposition. A larger than life figure in Roma, he may make Roberto Martinez regret picking Marouane Fellaini and Axel Witsel.
Arturo Vidal Manchester United j ersey. With none of the ego or social media shenanigans of many of his teammates, Valencia just gets on with the game, bombs down the right flank and delivers dangerous crosses week in, week out. However, the 32year-old could not inspire Ecuador to what would have been his third World Cup.
This box to box midfielder, who starred for Chile in the last two World Cups, was suspended for his country’s final qualifier against Brazil and powerlessly watched from Munich as his team were eliminated. The World Cup will sure misss a player of his caliber.
Christian Pulisic
Marco Verratti This World Cup would have been the first major tournament for Borussia Dortmund’s rising star Christian Pulisic. Still only 19, Pulisic is already the biggest star in the US team and was heavily criticised in the US media following their embarrassing exit in the final game against Trinidad and Tobago. The teenager will still have a chance to in years to come.
Mauro Icardi
Going by his domestic form this season, Mauro Icardi is the most noticeable absentee from any squad. Argentina are renowned to have attacking options to spare, and leaving out a player who has worked wonders for Inter Milan in Serie A, undermines that statement and has even Hernan Crespo confused. If I was in Jorge Sampaoli’s shoes, Icardi would have been preferred to Juventus’ Gonzalo Higuain.
Gareth Bale
After “probably the best goal in Champions League final history”, Bale will be a miss in Russia. It has been a positive few years for Wales but the Euro 2016 semifinalists were pipped to a playoff spot by the Republic of Ireland, meaning Bale’s wait for a first World Cup goes on. With Ryan Giggs taking the helm, Wales and Bale might just be on their way to Qatar. Well, who knows. Mannschaft’s
Aymeric Laporte
Didier was spoilt for choice when picking his final 23, and while he has a team peppered with luminaries, there are plenty left out in the harsh cold despite having a strong seasons at club level. Aymeric Laporte’s move to Manchester City from Athletic Bilbao did not help secure his place in the French team. The toil of having to compete with Nicolas Otamendi and Vincent Kompany seldom saw him given a consistent run of games, but his talent is undeniable.
Alex Sandro
Juventus’ double-winning campaign would ordinarily have placed Sandro in contention to make the grade for Brazil. However, the trouble is that he is too much like Marcelo in almost every way. Tite considered Marcelo a safer bet due to his serial winning habits.
Ruben Neves
Anyone who has watched Wolves in the Championship this season will have seen Ruben Neves and the impact of this playmaker in taking Wolves to the Premier League. Everyone, including myself, expected him to be one of the first names on the plane for the European Champions but that wasn’t the case. The former Porto man was instrumental in the heart of the Wolves team and if Portugal have two or three better midfielders than the 21-yearold maestro, they are going to be major contenders in Russia.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Moving to Arsenal in January, PierreEmerick Aubameyang is his country’s most prominent star. Although he was been scoring on all fronts with Borussia Dortmund and now with Arsenal, he was unable to guide Gabon to international success.