An outcasts XI who would get in most teams
STEVE MILLAR
JOE HART
(England, goalkeeper)
The ex-Manchester City hero was left heartbroken by the decision to leave him out of the squad as one of the most high-profile stars missing from the action. There was a genuine belief that Hart, even after a disappointing end to the season on loan at West Ham, would have been given a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad as experienced cover. HECTOR BELLERIN (Spain, right-back) Hard to understand why a player of great pace and someone so strong in the tackle was omitted. But a slight loss of form this season has meant the Arsenal man, 23 (left) missing the World Cup finals. SHKODRAN MUSTAFI (Germany, centre-back) Another Arsenal star rejected by his country, this time by Joachim Low. Mustafi has represented Germany at all levels from the Under-16s and was a World Cup winner in 2014.
AYMERIC LAPORTE (France, centre-back)
Signed by Man City in January for a whopping £57million and began living up to the sky-high price on the run-in to the Premier League title.
Laporte is the most expensive player never to win a full international cap and many in his homeland will be scratching their heads as to why.
LUCAS DIGNE
(France, left-back)
Has spent the last two seasons on Barcelona’s bench but the former Paris Saint-Germain defender still thought he deserved his place in Russia.
RADJA NAINGGOLAN (Belgium, midfield)
A player at his peak. The Roma midfielder has been in fabulous form this season and his omission would have raised a few eyebrows from team-mates. JACK WILSHERE (England, midfield)
He finally proved his fitness to Southgate but still got overlooked. Wilshere showed touches of his genuine class for Arsenal last season when he did play and his midfield genius could be a telling, missing factor for England in Russia.
ANTHONY MARTIAL
(France, midfield)
Somehow you have to think that his World Cup ambitions weren’t helped by the lack of trust from his Manchester United manager Jose
Mourinho.
Martial (right) has struggled at Old Trafford since the arrival of Alexis Sanchez and has been linked with a summer move.
MARIO GOTZE
(Germany, midfield)
The Borussia Dortmund star won the previous World Cup with an extra-time goal against Argentina and will be gutted to be denied the chance of helping retain the trophy. It’s been an unfortunate fall from grace for Gotze, 26, after once being described as one of the best talents Germany has ever had.
LEROY SANE
(Germany, attacking midfield)
The football world was stunned that Manchester City’s title-winner was left out of Low’s squad after such a sensational season at The Etihad. Former Germany captain Michael Ballack spoke out over the shock decision and believed there was no “sporting reason” behind his omission. MAURO ICARDI (Argentina, striker)
You are always going to struggle getting into a team packed with superstars like Lionel Messi but Icardi deserved the chance to go to Russia. He finished the season with 30 goals as he helped Inter Milan back into the Champions League as their captain.