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With all qualification rounds finally over ,the star cast available for one of the biggest sporting extravaganza on earth The FIFA WC 2014 has been decided. This time there were no major upsets, but here are the top 5 teams that missed the bus to Brazil.
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5. Senegal - The only missing team from African continent would be Senegal considering their recent rise in stature.The impoverished small nation of Senegal located on the eastern coast is ranked 64 by FIFA. Still Senegal has a considerable reputation in African Football. Pitted against the African Giants Ivory Coast in last qualifying round ,Senegal may have lost the spot but surely won hearts. Having stars like Demba ba and Papiss Cisse in their ranks one would expect to see their heroics in 2014 WC in Brazil but unfortunately FIFA has just 5 qualifying spots for Confederation of African nation.
Serbia
4. Serbia - The Serbs were perhaps in a relatively tougher UEFA group A. In a relatively tougher group consisting of teams like resurgent Belgium and rivals Croatia ,team performed clumsily loosing the play-off spot to Croatia. Renowned for their Rigid defense the team lost uncharacteristically to minnows Macedonia. Later the losses against Belgium and arch rivals Croatia meant they finished 3 points behind second placed Croatia.
The likes of Chelsea defender Branislas Ivanovic, Manchester City’s Kolarov, Dortmund’s Neven Subotic and Manchester City’s rising star Nastasic will surely be missed.
Denmark
3. Denmark - The Danes can consider them somehow unfortunate in the manner they were eliminated. Being put alongside giants Italy and competitive sides Czech Republic they just managed to fend off the Czech challenge.With the likes of Liverpool’s Daniel Agger and Spurs rising star Christen Eriksen Denmark managed to finish second in their group. They failed to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Finals, despite finishing in 2nd place in their league-group because they won the lowest % of available points of the 9 teams finishing in 2nd in each of the 9 league-groups.
Ukraine
2.Ukraine - So close yet so far, The blue-yellow brigade are likely to be the most heart-broken considering their splendid display in qualifiers. Ukraine won 6 of its qualifying matches loosing just one and drawing 3. Sadly Ukraine was second to England by just one point in Group stages managing to secure a play-off spot against giants France. Beating France in first leg 2-0,they almost had their one foot on Brazil but the French snatched victory out of jaws of defeat. Ukraine faltered at the final hurdle losing 3-0 in the final and away leg with the the third and decisive goal proving out to be a unfortunate deflection. Clearly lady luck wasn’t with on their side.
Sweden
1.Sweden - Sweden was again a play-off casualty .The Swede’s finished second to Germany in group C of UEFA .The Swedes were pitted to face Portugal again in the play-offs .Sweden had lost to Portugal in the 2010 play-offs and history was to repeat itself again. Star Striker Zlatan Ibrahmovic tried his level best to keep the Swedish dream alive but it was eclipsed by Ronaldo‘s Hat-trick. Sweden lost 4-2 to Portugal in the play-offs ending their Brazilian dream. Apart from Zlatan on and off the pitch Swedish fans renowned for their friendly attitude and goodwill will be missed as true ambassadors of the game.
