2018 World Cup: Missing Players

All nations involved in this summer’s World Cup in Russia have now named their provisional playing squads for the Finals and, as usual, there are some major talking points. With managers having just 23 available players at their disposal, they have to cater for all potential outcomes, including injuries, formations and form. England boss Gareth Southgate made the decision to leave out the likes of Joe Hart and Jack Wilshere, who had been mainstays in the Three Lions’ side over recent years, however there were some far more surprising exclusions from some of the other major nations heading to Russia. Let’s take a look at some of those who will not be featuring this summer, with some names coming as a shock to say the least.

Mario Gotze

Having scored the winning goal for Germany in the World Cup Final in Brazil for years ago, Mario Gotze will be hugely disappointed to miss out this summer, however his form for club side Borussia Dortmund means that the likes of Leroy Sane and Julian Brandt were favoured instead. Gotze suffered from a muscular illness last season and has seemingly struggled to rediscover his best form since.

Alvaro Morata

Having signed for Premier League side Chelsea last summer, much was expected of Spanish forward Alvaro Morata. However, the former Real Madrid and Juventus man has struggled in the second half of the season, losing his starting place in the Chelsea team to Olivier Giroud. Despite scoring 11 Premier League goals, the 25-year-old has seen the likes of Diego Costa and Rodrigo named in his absence.

Mauro Icardi

Serie A top scorer Mauro Icardi is perhaps the most unfortunate to miss out on the trip to Russia, with the Argentine striker having scored 29 goals for Inter Milan this season, firing them to Champions League qualification in the process. However, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Paulo Dybala and Sergio Aguero as competition, manager Jorge Sampaoli has decided that Icardi’s services are not required, as the South American’s look to go one better than they did in Brazil four years ago.

Renato Sanches

Having been hyped as one of the most promising young midfielders in Europe when he signed for German giants Bayern Munich in 2016, Renato Sanches has failed to show any signs of such promise, with his recent spell with Swansea City in the Premier League being the final nail in the coffin for Portugal boss Fernando Santos. However, still at just 20 years of age, Sanches could well recover in the future.

Anthony Martial

Having been on the fringes of things for Manchester United for the majority of things, Anthony Martial will be hugely disappointed to miss out for France this summer, with the youngster reportedly considering his future with the Premier League runners-up as a result. The speedy winger is a huge threat on his day, however the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Thomas Lemar and Florian Thauvin have been preferred by French boss Didier Deschamps.

Elsewhere, the likes of Radja Nainggolan, Jack Wilshere, Joe Hart, Hector Bellerin and Dimitri Payet are among the other players who we will not see in Russia this summer, with some managers sweating on the performances of their inclusions.