If you're like me, I'm sure you would have known the big names that will not be in Brazil...some were overlooked by their coaches while some suffered injuries with others not back into full fitness for the tournament.
Here are some of the big names that are missing...
1) Kaka (Brazil)
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| Kaka |
You wonder why the Brazilian superstar is not in Brazil for the tournament. We can't blame Scolari for that. After all, the Brazilian coach is making a call based on the players' performance for both club and country lately.
Despite performing well in a difficult campaign for AC Milan in 2013-14, in which he passed the 100 goal mark for the Rossoneri, Kaka was overlooked for the attacking midfield position in favour of Oscar, Bernard, Willian and Hernanes, with Scolari largely keeping faith with the players who stormed to Confederations Cup glory last summer.
Well, if Brazil need a goal to win during the competition, there will definitely be those who wonder what if Kaka were part of the game....
2) Ashley Cole (England)
One of the world's best left back will not be involved in the World Cup in Brazil. England's best left back will not make his appearance for England in World Cup when he was overlooked by Roy Hogson.
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| Ashley Cole |
The 33-year-old made just 17 Premier League appearances under Jose Mourinho last term after seeing his first-team spot usurped by Cesar Azpilicueta, and Hodgson opted for the in-form Leighton Baines and rising Southampton star Luke Shaw, though he admitted cutting Cole had been one of his toughest decision to date.
While Cole may not be as good as when he was during the last World Cup, his speed, experience and composure could still bring a calm for England in their defence. Leighton Baines is definitely great and his performance for Everton was a proof of that but to deny Cole of his last opportunity in Brazil could be a mistake for Hogson.
3) Carlos Tevez (Argentina)
Carlos Tevez was never expected to land the plane to Brazil but it still feel like a loss for him.
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| Carlos Tevez |
Regardless of him being overlooked for the spot in the Argentina squad, the player has already planned to take his family to Disneyland this summer, even before Sabella named his final squad.
4) Samir Nasri (France)
Manchester City star Samir Nasri's World Cup snub was as unbelievable yet not unexpected. The 26-year-old incurred the wrath of the French Football Association after Euro 2012, when he launched an infamous tirade against reporters following Les Bleus' dismal performances. Head coach Didier Deschamps has opted to keep him at arm's length since France's 2-0 defeat to Ukraine last November.
While Nasri took the news in a professional manner, his girlfriend launched an expletive-laden rant against Deschamps on Twitter.
5) Giuseppe Rossi (Italy)
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| Rossi |
The player was touted as one of the most talented player seen in the Italian football for quite a while. He was skillful and unlike most players in the Italian squad, he was also creative. Yet the 27 year old suffered a recurrence of the knee ligament injury which blighted his time with Villarreal, keeping him sidelined for four months during the campaign, but the former Manchester United youngster returned to Serie A action against Sassuolo in early May and got straight back into scoring.
Cesare Prandelli called him up for the friendly with Republic of Ireland, where he played from the start and managed more than an hour of action, but ultimately selected veteran Antonio Cassano and the relatively inexperienced Alessio Cerci, Lorenzo Insigne and Ciro Immobile as back-up options to Mario Balotelli.
The player made it obvious that he felt fit and ready to head to Brazil when he took to Twitter, claiming suggestions that he was uneasy about potential physical battles with defenders were a "joke".
Prandelli may have to face the consequence if the Italians find it difficult to score during the tournament.
I am sure there are other great players that were excluded from selection. It was a shame not to be able to see how these players would have bring a change to the tournament had they been selected.
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