The qualification playoffs for the 2022 World Cup are just around the corner and some massive big-name players are in danger of missing out on the sport’s biggest tournament.
The likes of Portugal, Italy and Sweden are at risk of failing to qualify for Qatar 2022, and that means the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Jorginho and Zlatan Ibrahimovich could all be forced to watch the World Cup from home.
However, we’ve already seen a number of talented players who will definitely miss out on the tournament. Here’s our best XI of players who sadly won’t be heading to Qatar.
Best XI of players who’ll definitely miss the 2022 World Cup
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GK: Jan Oblak
Jan Oblak may have been one of the best goalkeepers in La Liga for almost a decade but his Slovenia side haven’t done enough to qualify for the World Cup.
Slovenia finished fourth in their qualifying group, dashing any hopes of Oblak playing in Qatar.
RB: Matt Doherty
We’re in a golden age of right-backs and, thankfully, most of them are still in contention of going to Qatar.
Unfortunately, Tottenham’s Matt Doherty won’t be at this World Cup as his Ireland team failed to finish in the top two of their group, finishing behind Serbia and Portugal.
Doherty has been brilliant for Spurs of late but won’t be able to strut his stuff on the world stage.
CB: Milan Skriniar
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Milan Skriniar is a Serie A winner and a key player for Inter Milan. However, his Slovakia team failed to make it through their UEFA qualification group stage.
Slovakia finished third in the same group as Jan Oblak’s Slovenia, who also failed to qualify.
CB: Edmond Tapsoba
Bayer Leverkusen star Edmond Tapsoba has been a transfer target for some of the biggest clubs in Europe in recent years. However, the young centre-back won’t be going to Qatar.
His Burkina Faso side fell just short in their qualification group behind Algeria.
LB: Kostas Tsimikas
Kostas Tsimikas has been excellent whenever he’s been called on by Jurgen Klopp for Liverpool this season – but he won’t be going to the World Cup.
Greece may have been Euro 2004 winners but those glory days seem a distant memory. A qualification group that included Spain and Sweden proved too hard for Greece to get through.
CM: Franck Kessie
Franck Kessie looks to be Barcelona-bound, but he isn’t Qatar-bound as his Ivory Coast side failed to overcome Cameroon in their qualification group.
Ivory Coast have become something of a World Cup mainstay in recent years, but the Elephants won’t be heading to this edition of the tournament.
CM: Martin Odegaard
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Norway are bordering on a golden generation, but this tournament has come too soon for the Scandanavian outfit.
Norway ran Turkey and the Netherlands close in UEFA’s group G, but they fell just short meaning Odegaard will have to stay at home this winter.
CM: Naby Keita
Another Liverpool player makes our team of broken dreams in the shape of Naby Keita.
Guinea have never played at a World Cup and, while Keita may be the best player they’ve ever produced, he still couldn’t carry them through African qualifying.
RW: Nicolas Pepe
The second Arsenal player to make our team of World Cup woes. The £72 million man will have to keep teammate Martin Odegaard company this winter as his Ivory Coast side failed to qualify.
ST: Erling Haaland
Undoubtedly the biggest name to miss out on this tournament, Haaland will now be unable to grace a World Cup until at least the age of 25.
The striker is one of Europe’s best right now, but even he couldn’t help Norway through an incredibly tough group.
LW: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Aubameyang is enjoying a resurgence at Barcelona, but he may never get the chance to play at a World Cup.
Indeed, by the time 2026 rolls around, the Gabonese forward will be almost 37 years old. For a striker who relies so much on pace, there’s every chance he won’t be playing at the top level at that age.
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