Stay At Home XI: Top Players That Will Miss Out On Next Year’s World Cup

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Midfielders:

Gareth Bale – Wales

The Real Madrid ace may have had his mind elsewhere during the final few games as he put the finishing touches on his big-money move to Spain, but Bale, for the most part, is completely blameless for his country’s failure to make it to the World Cup.

As is so often the story with Wales, they are capable of producing some of the world’s most electric talents and then not being able to utilise them and give them a platform on the world’s stage. Finishing fourth in Group A, they will be hoping to regroup under manager Chris Coleman (if they decide to keep him on) and mount a serious challenge next time around.

With Bale undoubtedly one of the best players in the world at the moment, he will be hoping not to follow in the footsteps of Manchester United and Wales legend Ryan Giggs in never appearing at a major international tournament.

Stevan Jovetic – Montenegro

A big-money signing for Manchester City from Fiorentina this summer, Stevan Jovetic is undoubtedly a stand-out player at international level for Montenegro, though his performances could not help lift his country to World Cup qualification, as they finished behind the likes of England and Ukraine in a difficult group.

Jovetic may go on to set the Premier League alight this season, but he’ll then be watching the World Cup from his sofa when the summer comes.

Christian Eriksen – Denmark

The young Dane possibly felt the burden of a nations expectations on his shoulders during this campaign that meant he was unable to help his side with a more meaningful contribution. Whilst there’s no shame in finishing second behind a resurgent Italian side, the fact that the bulk of Denmarks goals came against Malta must be a concern.

Luckily, Eriksen is still at the infancy of his career and will have plenty of time in order to re-establish his country as perennial tournament dark horses.

Marek Hamsik – Slovakia

Slovakian football is probably stronger now than it’s ever been, but there will be serious questions to be asked at home as to why they couldn’t capitalise on making the most of a relatively kind group that saw only Greece and Bosnia finish above them.

Hamsik is a major player in Italy’s Serie A, and has been one of the key figures in his club becoming a regular contender for the Scudetto. He may have missed out this time around, but if the game in the country progresses at the same rate then it won’t be long before they become tournament regulars.

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