23 Man Squad NOT going Russia would probably win the World Cup

The World Cup preliminary squads have been announced and there are some huge surprises when it comes to players who have been left out of their respective nations’ squads.

We have put together a World Cup squad of players who will NOT be going to Russia this summer, and the starting 11 may well be good enough to win the tournament given the chance. Big names from nations such as Spain, France, Belgium, Germany and England will be staying at home and there is some serious talent missing out on the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

 

Players Left out of the World Cup 2018 Squads

Most of these players have simply been left out of the squads all together, but for four of them (Dani Alves, Laurent Koscielny and Dimitri Payet, Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain) injury has prevented them from joining up with their nations. All four players would have certainly been in their World Cup squad but instead they’ll be watching the World Cup from home this summer.

Other huge names to be left out include Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema, World Cup 2014 winning scorer Mario Gotze and Spain and Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin. There was also no place in Russia for England goalkeeper Joe Hart or Manchester United winger Anthony Martial. France will be leaving an abundance of talent at home including Kingsley Coman and Alexandre Lacazette.

 

Starting 11 NOT Going to the World Cup

The names left out of the respective World Cup squads would make up a pretty frightening team, and we’ve selected a starting 11 of the players to miss out on Russia. On paper, if this team went to the World Cup this summer we think they’d have a pretty good chance of winning the tournament!

 

Defence

The starting 11 includes Joe Hart in goal, who has amassed 75 caps for England. Dani Alves will miss the World Cup through injury and that’s a huge blow for Brazil. David Luiz also misses out after not featuring for Chelsea much this season. On the opposite full-back position is another Chelsea player in Marcos Alonso. He is Chelsea’s first choice left back but there is no place for him in the Spain World Cup squad. Manchester City’s £57million center back Aymeric Laporte makes up the back four.

 

Midfield

We were spoilt for choice when looking through the midfield players who have missed out on their nations World Cup squads but have gone with a three man midfield in our 11. Dual European Champion and World Cup winner Cesc Fabregas didn’t make the Spain squad and he will sit alongside Radja Nainggolan with France’s Dimitri Payet playing in the number 10 role. Payet was set to be in the France squad but injury has ruled him out after he limped out of the Europa League final.

 

Attack

Another area where we were spoilt for choice but on the wings we have gone for France’s Anthony Martial, who has played 18 time for his country but won’t be going the World Cup, and Mario Gotze – the scorer of the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final for Germany. Up front Karim Benzema gets the nod ahead of Lacazette and Alvaro Morata of Spain. Benzema has been frozen out of the French squad since 2015 but has scored 27 time for his country and 127 time for Real Madrid.

 

Rest of the 23-man Squad

The rest of the 23-man squad to miss out on the 2018 World Cup squad includes England and Liverpool due Adam Lallana and Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain. Their teammate Emre Can is also included. A big surprise from the Spain squad announcement was no place for Barcelona full-back Sergi Roberto so he goes into our squad of players who missed out on the World Cup. Arsenal’s Mustafi and France’s Laurent Koscielny are also included. The other midfielders are PSG’s Rabiot and Ander Herrera of Manchester United. Morata and Lacazette will provide the back-up to Karim Benzema.

 

World Cup Previews

World Cup Group A Betting Tips – Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay

World Cup Group B Betting Tips – Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran

World Cup Group C Betting Tips – France, Australia, Peru, Denmark

World Cup Group D Betting Tips – Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria

World Cup Group E Betting Tips – Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia

World Cup Group F Betting Tips – Germany, Mexico, Sweden, Korea Republic

World Cup Group G Betting Tips – Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England

World Cup Group H Betting Tips – Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

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