FIFA World Cup 2018: Dropped 23-man squad

Strikers

Mauro Icardi (Argentina | Inter Milan), Sandro Wagner (Germany | Bayern Munich), Wissam Ben Yedder (France | Sevilla), Alexandre Lacazette (France | Arsenal) and Alvaro Morata (Spain | Chelsea)

Icardi and Morata in FC Internazionale Milano v Juventus FC - Serie A

If one had scored 29 goals in 36 games, there's no reason to leave that player out from the national squad for the World Cup. Mauro Icardi, though, finds himself caught in the most unusual circumstances.

Higuain, who had a very disappointing record this season was preferred by Sampaoli ahead of Icardi. Higuain may have the experience, but Icardi surely has the talents to be an irrepressible force. Sampaoli will mostly regret his decision to leave out the Inter Milan forward from his squad.

Sandro Wagner expressed his disbelief in not being able to make it to the German provisional squad and he, too like Nainggolan, decided to hang his boots from the international arena. Ben Yedder, who pretty much single-handedly knocked out Manchester United in the Champions League, was overlooked by Deschamps and so was his French counterpart, Alexandre Lacazette, who had a pretty decent first season at Arsenal, becoming their top scorer this season.

Alvaro Morata has paid the price for a disappointing debut season in the Premier League, after being left out of Spain's 23-man World Cup squad as Lopetegui picked Iago Aspas and Rodrigo Moreno up front, along with Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa.