The €100 million man who in recent times scored the winners in both the Champions League and the Copa del Ray finals missing the World Cup as Wales failed to qualify. In spite of his four goals in the qualifying rounds, the combined top from the group, Wales done a unsatisfactory fifth as they conceded 20 goals, including six in one match against Serbia.
Radamel Falcao (Columbia)
Falcao was the powerful force behind Columbia’s qualification movement, finishing as combined third-highest goal-scorer with nine goals after Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, as they claimed second mark in the CONMEBOL qualifying group. However, a shocking knee injury in January ruled him out for the rest of the season and left his World Cup hopes in risk. Fighting against time to come back to fitness for the World Cup, Falcao initially joined the 30-man opening team but failed to make the cut.
Marco Reus (Germany)
The Borrusia Dortmund attacker was of the best players in the German club and was the standout player of a Dortmund side that complete second in both the league and the German cup. Reus was part of an thrilling German team and would have been an almost assurance to start, particularly considering his pace and current form. However, Reus suffered an injury in Germany’s preparation match against Armenia and has been enforced out of disputation for the World Cup.
Frank Ribery (France)
The France and Bayern Munich star man complete third in the Ballon d’Or contest after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and has been lined out of the World Cup with an injury. Even though facing a comparatively trouble-free group and opportunity of a simple Round of 16 knockout match, France’s World Cup ambitions have taken a blow with Ribery being forced to drag out. The winger was France’s most skilled player and had played a crucial role in their run to the final in 2006.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden)
Having completed second in their qualifying group after an impressive German side, thanks mostly to Ibra’s six goals, Sweden were inauspicious to draw Portugal in the play-offs. They lost the first leg in Portugal 1-0 gratitude to a Cristiano Ronaldo goal and the Portuguese captain was in encouraged form for the return leg, when he scored a hat-trick. In spite of, scoring a brace, Ibra was incapable to prevent his side from deafening out 4-2 on aggregate. The cocky Swede famously said, “A World Cup without me is nothing to watch,” after his side’s loss. Even though his speech is not true, the World Cup would unquestionably have been a better sight with the Ibracadabra in it.
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