A squad of players whose countries failed to make it to Brazil next summer.
Every four years it’s inevitable that some of the world’s best players will miss out on showing what they can do on the world’s biggest stage. No matter how good they are at club level, their international sides just don’t seem to cut it, with some being unfortunate in being surrounded by team-mates of inferior quality. Here are just a few of the best who won’t be making the trip to Brazil next summer for the 2014 World Cup finals.
Goalkeeper:
Petr Cech – Czech Republic
There was a point, not too long ago, where the Czech Republic were ranked as the second best team in the world behind Brazil, but those days seem a long way off now as the Czechs consistently struggle on the international stage. Chelsea’s Petr Cech is one of the main men to suffer from this as he will once again miss out on an international tournament and stay at home twiddling his thumbs instead.
The Czech Republic finished third in a tough group that contained Italy, Denmark, and Bulgaria, and paid the price for not having a truly imposing figure up front anymore like the formidable Jan Koller.Defenders:
David Alaba – Austria
The Bayern Munich man is perhaps the brightest prospect that Austria have produced for years and as he continues to establish himself as a regular for both club and country, the Austrians unfortunately can’t match up to the Bundesliga side in terms of conjuring success.
Austria failed to navigate their way out of Group C, seeing Germany and Sweden finish above them. However, with players like him and Aston Villa’s Andreas Weimann coming through, they may not have to wait too long before the grace a major tournament in the near future.
Daniel Agger – Denmark
Agger has seen himself become one of the most sought-after defenders in the world after Spanish giants Barcelona lodged an enquiry into his availability as they search for a replacement for Carles Puyol.
However, despite finishing in a credible second place behind Italy in their group, they have been ruled out of the playoffs as the bulk of their goals came against lowly Malta, meaning that they fell short of being considered as one of the top performing runners up. Harsh, but at least now he’ll have plenty of time to consider that move to the Nou Camp.
Nemanja Vidic – Serbia
The Manchester United man can be disappointed with his side’s campaign as they failed to keep up with the early pace setters Belgium and Croatia. The group saw them play close rivals Croatia for the first time since the two nations split in the early ’90s.
Injury robbed him of long periods, but he will now have plenty of time to recover next summer as he sits at home and watches a select few of his club mates head off to South America.
Branislav Ivanovic – Serbia
Unlike Vidic, Ivanovic can’t blame injury for his contribution towards Serbia’s poor campaign. Featuring in the bulk of their qualifiers, the Chelsea man will also have time on his hands next summer and will be hoping to lead his troops toward the European Championships when the campaign to get there begins next autumn.
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.
Strikers:
Robert Lewandowski – Poland
Lewandowski is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after strikers in the world right now, but where he succeeds so well at club level with Borussia Dortmund, he can’t help but fall short on the international stage as the Poles are yet to utilise the talent available to them.
A poor campaign saw them finish in fourth place in Group H, and the final game defeat to England cost the manager his job, though Lewandowski was as guilty as any of his team-mates for missing some good chances at Wembley.
Burak Yilmaz – Turkey
The Turkish side are a strange one. So frequently do the interchange between looking like potential dark horses to absolute no hopers. Unfortunately for them, this time around it was the latter as the finished fourth behind Holland, Romania and Hungary in Group D.
Yilmaz, much like Lewandowski, has seen a clamour for his services as of late thanks to his excellent domestic form. Sadly, though, Turkey’s finest just aren’t on his wave length and they will be forced to sit this one out.