Salah, Haaland, Verratti: The best XI not going to 2022 World Cup

The World Cup is merely eight months away and so the line-up for international football’s premier competition has just about been decided.

Yes, we finally have a clear picture of who we can – and for the purpose of this article – can’t expect to see at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.

There are a few outliers whose futures still hang in the balance, namely Wales and Scotland, who have some big stars in Gareth Bale and Andy Robertson that would be sure to make this list should they fail to qualify.

But honestly, we don’t want to see any more big names miss out because this team is too good as it is.

Check out our top XI not going to the World Cup:

Formation: 3-5-2

GK – Jan Oblak

CB – Leonardo Bonucci

CB – Giorgio Chiellini  

CB – Leonardo Spinazzola

CDM – Jorginho

CDM – Marco Verratti

RAM – Riyad Mahrez

CAM – Martin Odegaard

LAM – Luis Diaz

ST – Mohamed Salah

ST – Erling Haaland

Now, that team would most likely win a World Cup, but these world beaters aren’t even getting on the plane…

The honourable mentions aren’t too shabby either: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alexander Isak, Yves Bissouma, Lorenzo Insigne, Nico Barella, the list seems endless.

Mostly, Italy are to blame. Their shock exit at the hands of North Macedonia has stacked this team with some top talent, especially from a defensive point of view.

You can bet plenty of strikers will be rubbing their hands together at the thought of not having to come up against the reigning European Champions, who conceded just four goals on route to gaining their crown.

Elsewhere, Haaland and his compatriot Odegaard led Norway through a disappointing qualifying campaign that saw them finish behind the Netherlands and Turkey.

Manchester City star Mahrez won’t be on the plane after