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Key England Player Is Missing From 2018 World Cup Sticker Book

Key England Player Is Missing From 2018 World Cup Sticker Book

Surely this is a mistake?

Anonymous

Anonymous

Surely, the whole purpose of a football sticker-book is to collect all your favourite players and put them in together in a tidy collection - so imagine how frustrating it must be when you're not able to do just that.

With the World Cup in Russia just around the corner, once again everyone's favourite Panini stickers are back and on sale this Thursday.

If you didn't know, these stickers are one of the many highlights the World Cup brings.

Having started way back in the 1970 World Cup, Panini sticker albums have been published in every single tournament since.

However, the company have made a massive oversight in this year's collection book.

They have left out a player from the England squad that could well feature in every single match for the side.

Press Association sports journalist and sticker enthusiast Simon Peach was eagle-eyed in spotting this blunder on Panini's behalf.

He went to social media to point out that goalkeeper Jack Butland has been omitted from this year's collection, with Everton's Jordan Pickford and unbelievably West Ham's Joe Hart there instead.

This is despite the Stoke goalie being quite possibly Gareth Southgate's number one choice to have between the sticks in Russia.

It's not the first time Panini stickers have landed in hot water.

It was announced just this week that this year's issue is set to be the most expensive ever, with a single pack of Panini stickers going up to 80p from 50p.

In fairness, it could be argued that we're being unfair on the staff at Panini.

They do have to make an educated guess as to which players will be featuring at the tournament - but they have played a risk in taking out England's probable first-choice goalkeeper.

As well as leaving out poor Butland, also left out are Chris Smalling, Kieran Trippier and Luke Shaw.

Words: Jacque Talbot

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Football News, Football, England, Gareth Southgate, World Cup