While the Fifa World Cup might be the ultimate stage for a footballer to exhibit his skills, the greatest show on earth is also quite often the reason behind a heartbreak or two.
The days leading upto a World Cup is the most traumatic for a footballer awaiting his fate before the preliminary squad is named. More often than not reputation counts for little as coaches search for that perfect balance in their squads that are sometimes drafted at the expense of a star player’s exclusion. Disciplinary reasons are also cited in the instance of a superstar being dropped or overlooked. Similarly, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil is no exception as it has already thrown up major surprises.
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has started the trend by excluding stalwarts Kaka, Robinho and Ronaldinho from his 23-man squad. AC Milan duo Kaka (32) and Robinho (30) are surprise omissions as they are in the right side of 30s. Veteran Ronaldinho might be past his prime but the absence of Kaka and Robinho, who have appeared in three and two World Cups respectively, raised a few eyebrows.
‘Big Phil’ though was unperturbed, quite reminiscent of the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan when he had omitted decorated striker Romario on way to Brazil’s fifth world title. In addition to Kaka, Robinho and Ronaldinho, Scolari has also turned a blind eye to Paris Saint Germain midfielder Lucas Moura and young Liverpool starlet Phillipe Coutinho.
Powerhouses Argentina, bidding for their third crown, have also courted a lot of headlines. Juventus forward Carlitos Tevez, despite his 19 goals in the recently-concluded Serie A season, continued to be out of favour with Alejandro Sabella while the prodigiously talented yet injury-prone Roma forward Erik Lamela found no place for himself in the squad along with PSG midfielder Javier Pastore.
Tevez though might have seen it coming as he had already revealed his plans of visiting Disney World with his wife and three daughters during the World Cup. The 2011 Copa America at home still remains the mercurial striker’s last involvement with the Albiceleste.
One of the most striking disclosures was perhaps dished out by France coach Didier Deschamps. Just two days after Manchester City had reclaimed their English Premier League title, midfielder Samir Nasri was gobsmacked upon finding out that he was left out of the squad alongside club teammate and left-back Gael Clichy.
Discipline might have been an issue as Nasri was also overlooked for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa by the then manager Raymond Domenech while the aftermath of Euro 2012 in Poland and the Ukraine saw the temperamental midfielder being banned for three games following a scathing attack on French journalists after the quarterfinal defeat to Spain.
Others who will also rue their luck include Spanish trio Roberto Soldado, Isco and Asier Illaramendi, experienced English footballers Ashley Cole and Michael Carrick and Russia’s once maverick midfielder Andrey Arshavin and striker Roman Pavlyuchenko.