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Midfield
Danilo Pereira (Portugal)- Holding midfielder
Danilo Pereira has been a regular starter at his club side Porto and was all set to be named in Fernando Santos' 23-man squad for the World Cup. The holding midfielder along with William Carvalho provides physicality and steel to the Portugal midfield. However, the 26-year old suffered a horrible long-term injury in mid-January and he will sadly miss the World Cup due to the Achilles tendon injury. suffered at the start of the year.
Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain- Right Winger
Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain moved to Liverpool at the start of the season in search of more playing time and also to get more time in his favored position. The move across to Merseyside has worked wonders for the Englishman as he had a directness, goals and assists to his game which seemed to lack direction under Arsenal Wenger at Arsenal.
An extremely impressive first season at Anfield domestically and in Europe made him one of the English players to watch out for in Russia. He would have lined up in the centre of the midfield and he would have provided dynamism and direct running at the defenders from the centre of the pitch. However, the 24-year old suffered a heart-breaking knee injury in the Champions League semifinals against Roma in April. The injury ruled the Ox out of the World Cup, and is likely to sideline until November at least. It will be extremely difficult for the versatile midfielder to shake off this devastating injury.
Dimitri Payet (France)- Central Attacking Midfielder
Dimitri Payet had a memorable Euro 2016 in which he was one of France's best players in their run to the final. However, he's unfortunately going to be watching the World Cup in Russia from the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury in the Europa League final against Atletico Madrid.
The attacking midfielder had forced his way into contention with his star performances for his club, where he played a key role in Marseille’s season with 10 goals and 20 assists. Payet might have been the man to play the number 10 role in Deschamps' side, providing the ammunition for the likes of Mbappe, Griezmann and the other attacking talents. The 31-year old limped off in tears in the first half of the Europa League final knowing that his hopes of making it to the World Cup had gone to flames.
Serge Gnabry (Germany)- Left Winger
Serge Gnabry has been one of Germany's brightest young talents all through his rise in the youth levels. The former Arsenal winger was frozen out of action in England and sought a move back to Bundesliga in search of more game time. The move paid dividends for the young man as his impressive performances earned him a national call-up.
In just his second appearance, the German winger scored a sensational hat-trick in a World Cup qualifier match against San Marino.
The 22-year old was not confirmed of a spot in Joachim Low's 23-man squad, but his consistent performances made him one of the bright young Germans to keep an eye out on. However, a groin injury suffered in end of April put to rest any hopes the young man might have had on travelling to Russia with the squad.
