FIFA World Cup 2018: Dropped 23-man squad

Midfielders

Adrien Rabiot (France | Paris Saint Germain), Radja Nainggolan (Belgium | Roma), Anthony Martial (France | Manchester United), Javi Martinez (Spain | Bayern Munich), Ruben Neves (Portugal | Wolverhampton), Luis Alberto (Spain | Lazio), Vitolo (Spain | Athletico Madrid) and Jack Wilshere (England | Arsenal)

Even an intense bus parking model won't be able to stop the wreckage that could be created by this list of versatile midfielders. They had all the reasons to believe that they deserved a ticket to Russia, but they were unfairly overlooked by their coaches, despite having a good season for their respective clubs.

Rabiot, Nainggolan, and Martial do have the talents to represent any other squad in the World Cup, and their omission has shocked the footballing world completely. Nainggolan was bewildered by Roberto Martinez's decision to leave him out of the squad after having a kick-ass season for Roma and even announced his international retirement.

A dejected Nainggolan has announced his retirement from the International circuit

Lopetegui had a surfeit of options in the midfield department and leaving the Spanish trio of Martinez, Luis Alberto, and Vitolo back at home wouldn't cost them much at Russia. Wolves ace Ruben Neves saw his World Cup hopes dashed after being excluded from Portugal’s final 23-man squad.

The former Porto captain had a memorable season, but Fernando Santos selected experienced players to provide supporting acts to their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo. Jack Wilshere had a decent season for the Gunners and was a notable absentee from Gareth Southgate's squad. His long history of injuries and also the superior performance of Dele Alli, Eric Dier, and Jesse Lingard in the Premier League shut the gates to Wilshere's hopes of representing the Three Lions in Russia.