World Cup 2014: The heart-breaks; the Joys

0

TEVEZNASRI

With the 2014 Brasil FIFA world cup fast approaching, many players have been heartbroken due to the fact that they failed to earn a spot in their country’s squad, while some are only too glad to have what many consider surprise call-ups to represent their fatherland at the mundial.

Some top players were omitted from the provisional list by their country’s coach despite earning first team shirt for his club side. Juventus, striker Carlos Tevez who has been in excellent form for Italian champions Juventus this past season failed to earn a recall to Argentina’s provisional World Cup squad.

The striker who was the top goal-scorer for his club side with 19 goals to his name failed to get an invitation by head Coach Alejandro Sabella who has never called up the hard-working striker since taking charge of the national team in 2011. Rather he prefers the services of Ezequiel Lavezzi and Rodrigo Palacio as substitutes for star attackers Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero.

Same fate befell Samir Nasir; Coach Didier Deschamps opted for the services of other midfielders than that of Nasir. The player, who was instrumental in helping Manchester City to win the Premier League title, was left out from the 23-man squad going to Brazil. With seven goals and had seven assists in the Premier League this season, coach Didier Deschamps felt it was not enough to earn him a spot in the team.

Editor’s Picks  Macron not ruling out ground troops to help Ukraine win war

Talented Real Madrid midfielder Isco was also omitted from Spain’s provisional squad for the tournament. The defending Champions already have enough midfielders to represent their country in the World Cup; therefore Coach Vincente Del Bosque thought his services weren’t required.

Also not going to Brazil would be Paris Saint-Germain defenderGregory Van Der Wiel, who played in the 2010 World Cup final, after Louis van Gaal omitted his name from the Netherlands’ preliminary squad of 30 for the finals while Italian strikers Alberto Gilardino and Luca Toni also missed out.

Kaka, Robinho, Pjilippe Countinho all failed to make Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari’s list. The host players would not be representing their country in this year’s tournament. However, Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho can arguably feel the most aggrieved to not even get a spot on the waiting list.

The Liverpool midfielder has improved at Anfield over the course of the domestic campaign and will now have to wait until future events to show his calibre on the global stage.

In Nigeria, few players were left out of Keshi’s list. While some were recalled after years of been absent. Striker Ike Uche will not be seen at this year’s World Cup after the Villarreal striker failed to make Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi’s 30-man shortlist for the finals in Brazil.

Editor’s Picks  Cost of healthy diet stood at N858 in January-NBS

Nearly two years of been absent from Nigeria’s squad due to a feud, Osaze Odemwingie got a recall to the squad. The Stoke striker was named in Stephen Keshi’s 30-man provisional World Cup squad. Odemwingie is expected to make the final 23 squad following his good run of form for Stoke in the English Premier League.

Norwich City defender Joseph Yobo, who has not played for the national team for over a year, also got an invitation from the head Coach Stephen Keshi.

No doubt, while those on the lists will be thanking their lucky stars, the dropped stars will be brooding over their tough luck. But then, everyone knows that world cup football is a different ball game.