Most players are honored to represent the national team at major football tournaments and work hard for four years to impress the coaching staff and receive a call-up. However, there are only 23 berths available for each team and it is a challenging task to take one of them. Some players get lucky and get a chance to change history for their country while others are left out of the final squad and have to watch the World Cup on TV. It is even more disappointing if a player put in impressive season for his club and still did not make it to the national team. So who are the biggest victims of squad selection process before the World Cup?

Radja Nainggolan

An unbelievable decision from Belgium national team coach Roberto Martinez to snub their key midfielder Radja Nainggolan surprised many football pundits and fans who have seen Roma play in 2017/2018 Serie A season and in the UEFA Champions League. The team’s leader and best assistant led his side to another top four finish in the national championship as well as the semi-finals of the Champions League. He inspired the team’s comeback against Liverpool, scoring a brace in the last 10 minutes of the second leg. The decision to leave the influential halfback out looks all the more odd as the likes of Marouane Fellaini or Adnan Januzaj, who haven’t made a significant impact for their clubs lately, are in the team. Radja is undoubtedly a victim of his personal relations with the manager. A key player of Belgium national team at Euro 2016, Nainggolan retired from international football after finding out the news on his omission.

Joe Hart

A permanent presence in England’s goal since 2008, Joe Hart was snubbed by Gareth Southgate for the 2018 World Cup. Hart’s downfall started with the arrival of Pep Guardiola to the helm of Manchester City. Loaned out first to Italian outfit Torino and then to West Ham United, Hart did not have a chance to impress on the highest level. He further lost the spot in the starting lineup of The Hammers to Adrian. Despite being an essential part of the Three Lions’ Qualification campaign, Hart paid the price for the latest lack of practice, being snubbed and replaced by Burnley keeper Nick Pope after 75 caps for England.

Juan Mata

Juan Mata is not the only skillful Spaniard who was left out of the national team for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. An incredible squad depth made selection job extremely hard for Lopetegui and the head coach had to snub a group of talented players that could make another team of World Cup contenders. Fabregas, Ander Herrera, Gabi, Sergi Roberto, Marcos Alonso, Pedro, Javi Martinez, Bellerin are just a few players who did not receive a call-up. However, Juan Mata is one player who will be particularly missed in Russia. The 2010 World Cup winner, EURO 2012 champion, the UEFA Champions League winner and two-times Europa League winner would definitely add class to any group of players. Yet, he has not been a consistent presence at Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United team last season and did not get enough practice to prove his form.

Mario Gotze

The man who scored the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil will not be able to help his national team defend the title after being snubbed by Joachim Low. The nation’s hero had a mixed period with Bayern Munich and returned to his boyhood club Borussia Dortmund in 2016. However, Mario failed to replicate his previous level of performance (partially due to a long-term illness) and only scored 3 times in 34 games for his club in two seasons. At just 25, Mario Gotze has gone from winning five Bundesliga titles and scoring the winner in the World Cup final to being snubbed by the head coach. Hopefully, the player will still be able to get back to his best and show his skills once again.

Mauro Icardi

The omission of Mauro Icardi from the final 23-man Argentina squad reflects an impressive competition in the front line with Lionel Messi, Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero all standing above the 25 year-old forward in the ranks of Jorge Sampaoli. However, his supporters will be fuming as Icardi proved to be the top striker of the 2017/2018 Serie A season with 29 goals in 34 matches, ahead of the Juventus duo (Dybala and Higuain). It remains to be seen whether Sampaoli will be able to find room for all available attacking players on the pitch.

There are many more players who got snubbed by head coaches of the national teams, including Nani, Igor Denisov, Anthony Martial, Jack Wilshere etc. Yet the players on my list are the biggest selection victims.