AuthorJeffEyesRimmer The World Cup is looming and only a few weeks away now. The national squads are being finalised, with the majority of sides now having announced their 23-man squads. With these squads there was always going to be some players that missed out and this World Cup will see some big name players not plying their trade in Russia. Here are some of the big names that will not be at the World Cup this time out: Mario Götze (Dortmund) Would say he is the biggest surprise on this list of players who won’t be going to the World Cup. Götze was the hero of the 2014 World Cup final; he scored the goal that won it for Germany after all. Germany is blessed with a tremendous amount of talent, especially in the midfield area but it is a surprise to see him miss out. While this season has seen him injured for long periods he did manage 19 appearances in Bundesliga scoring two goals and also providing three assists. A passing accuracy of over 81% is nothing to be sniffed at too but with the ability in the German squad it is a question of who you leave out. Personally, I think they should have taken him. Joe Hart (Man City) Hart has had a wretched season while on loan at West Ham this season, conceding over 20 goals in 12 appearances is hardly world class form. He was promptly dumped from the first team in favour of Adrian. Hart was given a second chance but again fluffed it and with several players being in much better form than him he was going to struggle. However, it is a surprise to see him dumped altogether from the team, a possible third choice option was on the cards but it is good to see England manager Southgate reward form rather than reputation. That happened far too often over the years for England. To me he deserved to miss out, he can organise a great dart competition but his defense, not so much. If his England career wasn’t over before his petulance after being left out certainly should end it. Mauro Icardi (Inter) This one on paper seems a strange omission from a World Cup squad. Icardi has scored 29 goals in Serie A this season with Inter and so you would think he would be going. There are not many teams that would leave a fit 29 goal striker at home. But it seems there are issues with the player and manager and I think more crucially how Icardi plays with Argentina’s favourite son – Messi. While they have stated there are no issues between the pair there is clearly something going on behind the scenes that we aren’t really aware of. Argentina are blessed with plenty of attacking talent, its defense they have their main issues but if keeping Messi happy means that Icardi stays home, not many can argue with that. Alvaro Morata (Chelsea) It started so well for Morata at Chelsea this season after his big money move from Real but a dramatic dip in form in 2018 has seen him left out of the Spanish squad. The 25 year old did manage 11 goals this season and six assists but that wasn’t enough to make it into a quality Spanish side. Other big name players left out include Marcos Alonso and Cesc Fabregas but what strikes me as a little odd is the Spanish coach Lopetegui is only taking three strikers to the World Cup, with them taking eight defenders. Would an additional striker not have been more sensible? A whole other French Team (Karim Benzema - Real Madrid)
Just to put the French quality into perspective, the players that are not going to the World Cup include: Karim Benzema, Dimitri Payet, Anthony Martial, Alexandre Lacazette, Aymeric Laporte, Kingsley Coman, Andre-Pierre Gignac, Adrien Rabiot, Wissam Ben Yedder, Benoit Constil, Layvin Krzawa, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Tiemoue Bakayoko While all those players would likely make it into the majority of other squads I think the biggest name has to be Benzema for me. There are plenty who question his ability but he is about to potentially win another Champions League with Real and with 10 assists this season in La Liga he has certainly provided for his team. Much like with Icardi though it is highly likely that it is Benzema’s off field issues that has resulted in him not going to the World Cup. In fact it is likely that the scandal involving a sex tape will result in him not playing for France again. While he is a big omission I think it was a correct call to set a benchmark for the French team who are notorious for cracking under pressure and expectation. They have all the talent in the world but mentality they have had issues in the past, Anelka’s tantrum and fall out being a perfect example and so having a potential disruptive force like Benzema in the squad is unneeded and a big reason why he isn’t going to Russia. Who do you think should have gone to the World Cup but has been left out? |
AuthorsJust Some Fans Writing About Football. Archives
June 2018
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