Preparations for the world championship always begin well in advance: there is a comprehensive assessment of players' performance, clubs lure and sign contracts with promising shots, coaches pull the most successful players to the “level”. But over other shots I had to smash my head so that the final squad was perfectly balanced and “flooded” with the best in their position.
The World Cup is over, but fans and analysts are still indignant over some staffing decisions. Consider the loss of which 10 football players for the championship was a real surprise and, possibly, a significant mistake for the losing parties.
10. Gianluigi Buffon | Italy
Football fans were passionately worried that they would not see the “king” Messi in the Argentine national team, turning their eyes from other promising players of the national teams. So quietly, the “top” determined that she would not take Buffon’s spectators to the championship as an active player in the Italian team. It was necessary to see and feel the tears of the Italian during a flash interview. Gianluigi's career is coming to an end, so he hoped for the last time to wear goalkeeper gloves in the world championship and once again prove his undeniable professional suitability. The disappointment of adults and adolescents was predictable - the game without the charming Buffon is no longer that.
9. Sergi Roberto | Spain
How could you not take to the team the right-back of Barcelona, who brought victory to the championship of Spain? And yet his quality game was not convincing enough for the national team coach Julen Lopetegui. The Spaniard was not invited to the squad even as a substitute player, which was a real blow for the fans of his powerful and interesting game.
8. Alvaro Morata | Germany
The statistics of Morat pleasantly delight the fans - last season he gave six excellent assistants to his comrades, scored 15 technical goals on his own. However, such indicators are suitable only for the average football player, and after all, 75 million euros given to Chelsea should be worked out more efficiently. Some media even called Morat a disappointment for Chelsea, maybe that's why the Spanish team did not take the national favorite to the World Cup. Julen Lopetegi again had a difficult choice between Rodrigo and Alvaro, and he made it in favor of the first. Rodrigo played well last season, while Morato did not even half open and was in no hurry to bring Chelsea the long-awaited victory.
7. Pierre-Emerick Obameyang | Gabon
Gabon football does not really captivate the viewer, but Pierre-Emerick diversified it with his powerful game - he was named the best scorer in history. And yet, in the qualifying match for all 6 rounds, he never scored a single goal. This season, Obameyang did not stand out with a game, so in the national team he would simply be lost on the field. By the way, the national team could not call Pierre-Emerick on his own initiative, which he showed. Success at the club level fully satisfy his ambitions. It is a pity that one of the fastest players did not want to realize his potential in the national team of Gabon.
6. Alexis Sanchez | Chile
The national team completely flew past the championship, although it conquered Russian fans by playing in the Confederations Cup. Alexis, together with Vidal, dragged companions to the finals of the tournament, but Argentina, led by Messi, bypassed the Chilean team. The media believes that Alexis Sanchez could get the second place in the nomination “epic flight past the 2018 World Cup”. There is also an opinion among analysts that this year the Chilean national team would hardly have lit, as in the old days, since after the departure of Sampaoli, the quality of its game sank enough. Well, Sanchez will have a calm summer, which can be spent in the company of your favorite pets and a new girl.
5. Raja Nainggolan | Belgium
A wonderful football player was not taken to the national team with a scandal. There was no competition for the top player, but he managed to fall out of favor with the Belgian national team coach Martinez. The player even had to announce his intention to leave the team last year, but the conflict was “hushed up” and returned to the productive player. Nevertheless, the “passions” made itself felt, since the coach had not fundamentally indicated Raju in the application for the championship. Fans are wondering what kind of cat ran between the head coach and the most expensive shot of “Roma”, who miraculously dragged her to the semi-finals in the European Cup season. Martinez himself “wags” that supposedly Raja is incompatible with the chosen game tactics and layout, but the outraged fans did not convince such an answer.
4. Christian Pulisic | USA
Probably, the matter is not in the promising player, but still in the mass flight of the US national team at the World Cup. It seems that the higher powers themselves did not want the presence of effective Americans at the world championship. Just before the last round, the national team confidently took the position of 3 places, and a match was expected with the famous “outsider” Trinidad and Tobago. It would seem that it is simply impossible for the Americans not to win, and nevertheless, the outcome for the United States decided an own goal. It is a pity that the young (19 years old) and ambitious Pulisic does not realize his talent this year - he will have to be content with the title of “the best scorer in the CONCACAF zone”. More than 20 successful matches in the team should warm the player’s soul, especially since his career has just begun.
3. Gareth Bale | Wales
This year, the Welsh did not even participate in the butt games of the championship, so it is natural that they did not get on it. For Bale, the year was not the most successful - numerous injuries did not contribute to improving physical fitness. In the final round of the selection, the footballer had to sadly note from the stands how the partners are moving away from the “ticket” to Russia every minute.
2. Jan Cloud | Slovenia
The team took only 4th place in the group, but not through the fault of Cloud, who conceded 7 goals (which is not so much). The team, in principle, scored incredibly little, and the attacking game was very sluggish and not spectacular. The goalkeeper, claiming the title of “Golden Ball”, became a real star of the rather boring national team of Slovenia after the departure of Samir Handanovich, but even this did not save from a dull flight.
1. Arjen Robben | Holland
Career 33-year-old Robben is far from at its peak, so he worked hard on the flank of the “Bavaria”, hoping to once again get to the World Cup. Nevertheless, he completed his career in the national team, skipping ahead of Quincy Promes from Spartak. A lot of knee injuries did not stop Robben from dragging the orange team at all stages for years, so his conscience is clear. The midfielder made his first debut in the national team in 2003 and scored 37 goals for all time - not bad statistics. However, according to the results of the qualifying tournament, the oranges remained in 3rd place in the group, so they did not go to Russia.
Yes, many football players disappointed their loyal fans without visiting the famous world championship. Someone was hindered by unexpected and rash staff decisions, others were squabbling with their superiors, and still others simply played the season poorly, which did not impress the selection committee. Well, many young promising players will still have a chance to show themselves and earn a place in the national team.