World Cup 2018: 5 high-profile players who didn't make England's 23-man squad

By Scott Newman

Modified May 16, 2018 16:35 GMT

Arsenal's Jack Wilshere has not been included in England's World Cup squad

#3 Jack Wilshere

Jack Wilshere's injury record may have cost him a spot in England's World Cup squad

When looking at the 23 men selected for the World Cup, it becomes clear that one area England appear to be lacking in is in the creative midfield department.

It was expected by many fans that Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere would be selected to fill that role, but instead, the much-touted midfielder has been left at home, seemingly due to the inclusion of Fabian Delph and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Like with all of his decisions though, Southgate appears to have a good sense of reasoning behind the decision. After being in the international wilderness for the best part of two years following Euro 2016, Wilshere was selected for England’s squad for their March friendly games with Italy and the Netherlands, only to withdraw late on due to a reoccurring knee problem.

The likelihood is that this withdrawal probably cost Wilshere a spot in the squad – Southgate likely feels that the Arsenal man simply wouldn’t be able to cope with the rigours of tournament football, in a similar way to how Ledley King broke down on Fabio Capello at the 2010 World Cup.

His absence might mean England will be lacking some creativity – but it also means they bring a more robust squad to Russia.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Raunak J