With all 32 teams rubber stamping their spots at the 2104 World Cup in Brazil, we know which players will be gracing the huge party down in South America this summer.
But let’s spare a thought for the poor souls who didn’t quite make it to the warm climates of Rio, Sao Paolo, Recife et al.
There are some huge names who won’t be going to the World Cup, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the obvious omission, and now is a good time to reflect on other players that haven’t made it to Brazil 2014. Plenty of soccer superstars will be sitting on a beach somewhere this summer, instead of strutting their stuff on the biggest stage in world soccer.
Let’s take a look at just some of the player who won’t be in Brazil. Any others we missed?
Forwards: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robert Lewandowski, Gareth Bale, Roque Santa Cruz, Marcelo Martins, Claudio Pizzaro, Robbie Keane, Stevan Jovetic, Mohamed Salah, Papiss Demba Cisse, Demba Ba
Midfielders: Christian Eriksen, David Alaba, Marek Hamsik, Andriy Yarmolenko, Juan Vargas, Arda Turan, Nuri Sahin, Moussa Sow, Aaron Ramsey
Defenders: Branislav Ivanovic, Daniel Agger, Lukasz Piszczek, Ramon Torres, Carlos Zambrano, Matija Nastasic
Goalkeepers: Petr Cech