With the World Cup in Brazil few days away, we take a look at the best players who failed to make the cut, the injured stars and the unexpected and less fancied inclusions.
EXCLUDED PLAYERS
WILLY CABALLERO [MALAGA & ARGENTINA]: unarguably the second best goalkeeper in the Spanish league just after Atletico Madrid on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Caballero has been in great form for Malaga this season churning out impressive performances. A better shot stopper than Argentina first choice Sergio Romero who’s had to warm the bench on loan at Monaco last season.
WILLY CABALLERO [MALAGA & ARGENTINA]: unarguably the second best goalkeeper in the Spanish league just after Atletico Madrid on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Caballero has been in great form for Malaga this season churning out impressive performances. A better shot stopper than Argentina first choice Sergio Romero who’s had to warm the bench on loan at Monaco last season.
ASHLEY COLE [CHELSEA & ENGLAND]: really not surprised by his omission, as he’s had to play second fiddle to Cesar Azpilicueta a right back at Chelsea in a position he’s regarded one of the best. He has subsequently announce his retirement from international duties and ended his Chelsea career.
FILIPE LUIS [ATLETICO MADRID & BRAZIL]: omitted from the Selecao setup alongside club teammate Miranda despite having a great season with Liga BBVA champion & UEFA Champions League finalist Atletico Madrid. A fast paced attacking left back, with high defensive work rate and a good crosser of the ball. Big Phil opted for PSG defender Maxwell as cover for Marcelo instead.
RADJA NAINGOLLAN [ROMA & BELGIUM]: though on standby, but unlikely to make it to the mundial. Deployed to a defensive midfield role at loan after moving on loan from Cagliari in January. The Belgian made up for the loss of Kevin Strootman. He was thought to be in Marc Wilmots plan but the coach opted for other talented central midfielders.
PHILLIPPE COUTINHO [LIVERPOOL & BRAZIL]: the tricky Brazilian was instrumental in Liverpool’s league charge. His all-round ability as an attacking midfielder is astounding - as he’s characterized by pace, skills and his goal scoring threat, he also has great passing ability. Disappointing to see such a talent miss out due to stiff competition for attacking midfield berth.
SAMIR NASRI [MANCHESTER CITY AND FRANCE]: Didier Deschamps decision to leave in form Manchester City star Nasri out of the party in Brazil has caused a great stir on the European scene. Clearly, no doubts about his ability, the coach is still being skeptical with his attitude on and off the pitch. He won two trophies with the citizens last season.
ISCO ALCORON [REAL MADRID & SPAIN]: the £23million gem had a mixed season with Real Madrid, Juan Mata & Santi Carzola are being preferred to the former golden boy. He gave coach Vicente Del Bosque a glimpse at what he’d be missing at the tournament when he impressed in Madrid’s Champions League triumph against Atletico as a substitute.
IKECHUKWU UCHE [VILLARRAEL & NIGERIA]: played his heart back into the mind of many, through his constitent goal scoring performances with Villarreal. And has had many upbeat about his inclusion for the World Cup, but coach Keshi disappointed majority by his exclusion. His exclusion has generated mixed reactions from Nigerians especially retired Nigerian players.The striker has since moved on and scored two more goals for the yellow submarines.
CARLOS TEVEZ [JUVENTUS & ARGENTINA]: ‘El Apache’ scored 19 goals in his debut season for Serie A champions Juventus. He has not been part of Argentina setup since 2011. But his blistering form raised questions on whether or not he should make the cut. Sabella has then gone for relatively in form attackers and shockingly included ex-Chelsea striker Franco Di Santo who also has been trimmed from the squad.
LANDON DONOVAN [L. A GALAXY & U.S.A]: the charismatic forward was controversially axed from Jürgen Klinsmann coached stars and stripes team, and was one of the biggest shock for me. However, unfazed by this, the striker has gone to break the MLS highest goal scorer record with 2 goals to reach 136 goals.
GIUSEPPE ROSSI [FIORENTINA & ITALY]: 27 year-old Rossi was Fiorentina topscorer with 16 goals last season despite missing four months of the season with a right knee injury. The striker returned to action last month and was included in Prandelli’s preliminary squad. The New jersey-born player wasn’t at the previous edition of the World Cup in South Africa after he was dropped by then coach Marcelo Lippi for technical reasons, Rossi then missed Euro 2012 with a right knee injury. He has now surprisingly missed out on a third straight major tournament.
MATTIA DESTRO [AS ROMA & ITALY}: His exclusion is more surprising, the red-hot AS Roma striker has found the back of the net 13 times. Perhaps, after Balotelli he’s next in line to lead to lead the Azzuri. But it seems his recent on-field dustup with defender Davide Astori was his undoing. With Prandelli placing priority on team discipline over individual brilliance, the striker became dispensable for the squad.
INJURIES
VICTOR VALDES [BARCELONA & SPAIN]: unlikely to play in Brazil unless the group was a stroll in the park for the World Champions, but Valdes will be unavailable to keep the bench warm after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury while on duty for Barcelona in March. Manchester United shot stopper David De Gea has replaced him.
JERRY AKAMINKO [ESKISEHIRSPOR & GHANA]: Turkey-based Ghana stronghold guardian Akaminko is out of Ghana’s final squad after being injured in their warm-up match against the Netherlands. The defender hurt his ankle in the friendly encounter and will be sidelined for 3 months.
KEVIN STROOTMAN [ROMA & NETHERLANDS]: Holland defensive midfield lynchpin Strootman suffered a knee injury while playing for Roma in March. Holland manager Louis van Gaal has since switch from the accustomed 4-3-3 formation to unfamiliar formations such as 3-4-3 and 3-5-2 against Ecuador and Ghana respectively in their World Cup warm-up match – so is his invaluable worth to the Oranje team.
RAFAEL VAN DER VAART [HAMBURG SV & NETHERLANDS]: Van Gaal has been dealt with another huge blow, with versatile midfielder Van der Vaart out of the tournament due to an injury setback suffered during training at the Netherlands pre-tournament camp in Portugal.
LARS BENDER [BAYER LEVERKUSEN & GERMANY]: The 25 year-old midfielder who has been capped 17 times by Germany was ruled out of the World Cup squad with a thigh injury picked up in training. Lars’s twin brother Sven who plays for Dortmund failed to make the provisional squad because of groin injury. This injury by Bender leaves Low worried in the defensive midfield department as he’s also dropped IIkay Gundogan after an injury-ravaged season.
RICCARDO MONTOLIVO [AC MILAN & ITALY]: PSG midfielder Marco Veratti was relieved as to doubts on his inclusion after Italy trequarista was on the receiving end of a crunching tackle from Ireland defender Alex Pearce, in the tune-up game against The Republic of Ireland. It reduced the AC Milan captain to a broken leg. Montolivo played seven times in Italy’s World Cup qualifying campaign and had been expected to be a key member of Cesare Prandelli side in Brazil.
RADAMEL FALCAO [MONACO & COLOMBIA]: “I’m still not ready and I didn’t want to take a place away from me of my teammates who was 100% fit” those were the words of a considerate and disappointed Falcao who lost the race against time in order to be fit for the World Cup. The Monaco hitman, in January had a surgery to repair a torn ACL, despite his optimism his participation at the mundial has always clearly been in doubt. Coach Jose Perkerman now has to keep faith in in-form striking trio; Carlos Bacca, Adrian Ramos & Jackson Martinez and also Falcao’s strike partner Teo Guitterrez
THEO WALCOTT [ARSENAL & ENGLAND]: the Gunner winger had known his fate as early as January after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in the FA Cup win over Tottenham. This has left Roy Hogdson with in form youngster Raheem Sterling and Alex-oxlade Chamberlain.
CHRISTAIN BENTEKE [ASTON VILLA & BELGIUM]: the Belgian sharpshooter was ruled out for a minimum of six months with a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in training earlier this month.
MARCO REUS [BORRUSIA DORTMUND & GERMANY]: It is apparent that Germany can do with the loss of their in-form attacker considering the plethora of attacking talents they have and also the coach’s decision to call back 22-year-old Sampdoria defender Shkodran Mustafi. But it’s his dynamism and distinctive style of play that will be sorely missed. Reus sustained an ankle injury in Germany’s final warm-up game against Armenia in Mainz on the eve of the team’s departure for Brazil.
FRANCK RIBERY [BAYERN MUNICH]: The 2013 European best player is one of the high profile player to miss out on this showpiece as he was expected to headline the Les Blues charges to Brazil – to make up for their dismal showing at South Africa in 2010, but his chance was with dealt a big blow as he failed to recover from a back injury that had troubled him towards the end of last season.
SURPRISE INCLUSION
LUKE SHAW [SOUTHAMPTON & ENGLAND]: the introduction of an exceptional promising talent onto the world scene has seen the extinction of another fulfilled talent in Ashley Cole. Ironically, 18 year old Shaw retired the most capped English player.
SURPRISE INCLUSION
LUKE SHAW [SOUTHAMPTON & ENGLAND]: the introduction of an exceptional promising talent onto the world scene has seen the extinction of another fulfilled talent in Ashley Cole. Ironically, 18 year old Shaw retired the most capped English player.
ERIK DURM [BORRUSIA DORTMUND & GERMANY]: The young right footed left-back was included in the German final squad with experienced teammate Marcel Schmelzer who has been unable to convince Joachim Low of his fitness dropped. The young German though, had an exciting season at Dortmund playing ahead of first choice Schmelzer who was plagued by groin and knee problems all season.
REUBEN GABRIEL [WAASLAND-BEVEREN & NIGERIA]: The Big Boss overhaul of various midfield options and decision to stick with a certain Reuben Gabriel bewilders. Gabriel who also I perceive unpopular in Keshi’s plan was chosen ahead of versatile midfield players such as; Joel Obi, Sunday Mba, Nosa Igiebor and Nnamdi Oduamadi. He also hasn’t find the consistency he needs at Club to grant him a berth.
MICHAEL BABATUNDE [VOLYN LUTSK & NIGERIA]: Keshi’s decision to include the Volyn Lutsk winger in his squad to Brazil generated the most comment. Babatunde whose inclusion in the previously released preliminary squad cause an uproar, escaped the manager’s cull ahead of some established players and fans favorites. Gained himself more foes with his ill-showi in Nigeria tune-up matches against Scotland and recently Greece.
JULIAN GREEN [BAYERN MUNICH & U.S.A]: promising Green was surprisingly included in the United States World Cup squad in place of the talismanic Donovan.
ADNAN JANUZAJ [MANCHESTER UNITED & BELGIUM]: enjoyed his breakthrough season at United and finally chose to represent Belgium. His chance to feature at the World cup was fast-tracked by the injury sustained by star striker Christian Benteke.
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