Best XI of players who won’t be at the World Cup in 2018
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There have been plenty of shocks in the World Cup qualification process with some high-class teams being eliminated and therefore, some top players will be missing from the tournament at Russia 2018.
We’ve built a team from all of the players who won’t be featuring in the summer.
We think it stacks up pretty well, it’s just a shame that these players won’t grace our TV screens come the summer.
Gianluigi Buffon
One of the greatest goalkeepers of all time won’t be at the World Cup after Italy were knocked out by Sweden.
He’s now called time on an incredible international career and it was a shame that it ended in such a manner.
Antonio Valencia
Antonio Valencia has become one of the best right backs in the world for Manchester United but with Ecuador failing to qualify, he’ll be watching the World Cup at home
Leonardo Bonucci
One of the best defenders in the world, Leonardo Bonucci will be kicking himself after Italy’s exit…
Giorgio Chiellini
As will his teammate Giorgio Chiellini. That duo is formidable and there’ll be plenty of strikers happy to see them not qualify!
David Alaba
Completing the back four is David Alaba. Austria had a terrible qualifying period which means the Bayern Munich man will be getting a summer off.
Arturo Vidal
Chile’s shcok failure to qualify means that Arturo Vidal, one of the world’s most tenacious midfielders, won’t be competing in Russia.
Miralem Pjanic
Juventus star Miralem Pjanic can light up any game but Bosnia and Herzegovina’s failure to qualify means we won’t be seeing him this summer.
Marek Hamsik
Napoli’s Marek Hamsik has been in great form for Napoli but depsite his best efforts, Slovakia couldn’t do enough to secure a spot at the World Cup.
Gareth Bale
Had Gareth Bale been fit, Wales would have fancied their chances of beating Ireland in their must-win game. However, he was out injured and his teammates could not get the job done meaning the Euro 2016 semi-finalists miss out on a trip to Russia.
Alexis Sanchez
It looks like this summer will be a big one in Alexis Sanchez’s career as he ponders his next move. He’ll have plenty of time to think about it as Chile failed to qualify for the World Cup.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
With Gabon failing to progress from the African qualification process, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will miss out on another major tournament.
Second XI?
There are so many good players missing that we were able to build a second XI and in truth, this one looks pretty good too!
Oblak; Aurier, Bailly, Van Dijk; Pulisic, Jorginho, Keita, Insigne; Robben, Dzeko, Yarmolenko.