Europe, South America, North America, Asia and Oceania's World Cup qualifications are all but done with just the play-offs to go and there's some rather big names who won't be heading to Russia in the summer.
Last night Europe, South America and North America all finished the group stages of their qualifying processes. The big stories surrounded Switzerland, Portugal, Netherlands, Sweden, USA, Panamá, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru.
There was a chance that Lionel Messi was going to be missing the World Cup with Argentina needing a win against Ecuador to guarantee their place in Russia, fortunately for those of us who want to see the best players on the biggest stage the Barcelona forward's hat-trick proved the difference.
Cometh the hour, cometh the Messi. Image: PA
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However in the last round of games other big sides like USA, Chile and Netherlands weren't so lucky and found themselves out of the World Cup eight months before anyone arrives in Russia.
Those sides, along with a few other others, means that the players missing from the World Cup XI is quite tasty:
And there's a few more options to boot too.
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The team features some genuine world class operators, especially upfront and on the wings. Jan Oblak is one of the best keepers on earth right now whilst there's few better wingers than Gareth Bale and Arjen Robben, even with the Dutchman now retired.
Upfront Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexis Sanchez are crucial to any success their club teams have whilst the Chilean has helped his country win the last two Copa Americas.
The Copa America, Gold Cup and African Cup of Nations holders all won't be there as USA and Cameroon also failed to qualify. Image: PA
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That XI is far from the last of it though as there are plenty of alternatives. Former Cardiff City player Gary Medel would make many team's defence and Daley Blind could also be an option at the back.
Future Liverpool player Naby Keita, Napoli's Marek Hamsik, Manchester United's Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez could all make up a very decent midfield.
On the striking front Edin Dzeko is the man to miss out on the World Cup and our missing XI team.
It doesn't stop there either as there's still more teams to go out after the play-offs and remaining African qualifiers, could Italy, Switzerland and Ivory Coast join those not at the World Cup?
Featured Image Credit:Topics: World Cup