Stay-at-HomeXI: The Biggest Stars Missing the FIFA World Cup 2022

FIFA World Cup 2022 will be held in just a few days. Fans eagerly await the match between 32 of their favorite football players to claim the largest prize in football. The curtain will be drawn at the Qatar mega-event on 20 November. However, it will still be felt until the end of the world cups as a significant number of stars will not be there. ProPakistani has assembled an international squad that includes some of the most prominent names from the world cup. This is either because they were dropped from their national squads, or because their countries failed to qualify.

Here’s ProPakistani’s Stay-at–Home XI.

Gianluigi Donnarumma – GK

Donnarumma is a goalkeeper for European Champions-Italy. Because the Azzurri were defeated by North Macedonia in a playoff match, he will not be able to take part in the main event.

Leonardo Bonucci – RCB

Donnarumma’s teammate on the national team Bonnuci is another name that has been missing from this year’s world cup. Bonnuci, despite being an important backbone in the Euros campaign failed to steer the Italian ship towards Qatar.

Sergio Ramos – CB

Sergio Ramos, despite being the most captained player in his country’s history, failed to impress Luis Enrique. He left out the experienced defender of the 26-man squad that was set to compete for Qatar.

David Alaba – LCB

Alaba, a left-footed defender and captain of Austria, is versatile. Wales defeated Austria 2-1 in the semi-finals of the play-off semis to end Austria’s hopes of qualifying for the mega-event.

Federico Chiesa – RWB

Chiesa, an Italian winger, can also play right wing back. He was honored with the UEFA Euro 2020 Team of the Tournament after a brilliant Euros. Chiesa was unable to match his Euro performance during Italy’s qualification campaign for the world cup.

Nicolo Barella – RCM

Barella, an international from Italy, is known as one of the top central midfielders around the globe. Barella was crucial in helping his team win the Euros by providing vital assists. Barella was unable to make his team through to the finals of the world cup.

Thiago Alcantara – CM

Thiago, another prominent Spanish player, was left out of the 26-man World Cup squad. Thiago, despite playing a key role for Liverpool’s club, failed to impress Luis Enrique who justifiably exclusion Thiago by saying that Thiago was not up to the job.

Martin Odegaard – LCM

Norway’s attacking midfielder Odegaard is a great representation of Norway. Norway’s talented playmaker Odegaard will be missed at this year’s world cup. They finished third in their qualifying group behind Turkey and the Netherlands. Odegaard hopes to lead Norway to their third appearance at the world cup in the 2026 edition.

Andrew Robertson – LWB

Robertson is Scotland’s captain and plays as a left back. As a left-wing back, he is just as impressive. Scotland did not qualify for the mega tournament. Robertson will try to get his side to the ninth world cup in 2026.

Mohammad Salah – ST

Salah is the most prominent name not travelling to Qatar for this mega event. Egypt’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup were ended when Senegal beat them in penalty kicks.

ST Erling Haaland

Norway’s Haaland is represented. After his summer move, he has taken the Premier League by storm. Although he was in great form, Haaland couldn’t help Norway get into the mega event.

Substitutes

Player	Position	Country	Reason
David de Gea	GK	Spain	Not included in the world cup squad
Fikayo Tomori	Defense	England	Not included in the world cup squad
Milan Skriniar	Defense	Slovakia	Team did not qualify
Kieran Tierney	Defense	Scotland	Team did not qualify
Oleksandr Zinchenko	Defense	Ukraine	Team did not qualify
Marco Verratti	Midfield	Italy	Team did not qualify
Manuel Locatelli	Midfield	Italy	Team did not qualify
Riyad Mahrez	Forward	Algeria	Team did not qualify
Miguel Almiron	Forward	Paraguay	Team did not qualify
Victor Osimhen	Forward	Nigeria	Team did not qualify