World-class combined XI that failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup

Italy v Sweden - FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier Play-Off: Second Leg
Gianluigi Buffon has played his last game for Italy

Defence

Just like Buffon, there are two Italian stalwarts at the back who will not be at the World Cup next year.

Italy v Sweden - FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier Play-Off: Second Leg
Giorgio Chiellini may also quit international football

Giorgio Chiellini may have also played his last match for Italy. At 33, a crack at qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar seems highly unlikely.

Chiellini could technically still play on and help the Azzurri qualify for Euro 2020. But the 2018 edition was supposed to be his swan song too before he retired from international football.

Instead, he too will probably hang up his blue Italian jersey and focus on his club career with Juventus. Which is a crying shame as he was just four appearances away from marking his 100 games for Italy.

Leonardo Bonucci, on the other hand, now faces the bleak prospect of playing for Italy without the likes of Chiellini and Barzagli (now 36) by his side. The AC Milan defender still has time on his side to qualify for the 2022 edition in Qatar.

Italy v Sweden - FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier Play-Off: Second Leg
Leonardo Bonucci - the next Italian captain?

Both he and Juventus have suffered following his move to the San Siro this summer. He now has the added responsibility of leading the defence with the youngsters such as Daniele Rugani and Alessio Romagnoli coming through.

But he will have to wait till after the World Cup to do so.

Virgil van Dijk has had whirlwind few months that he would love to put behind him. A rising star in the Premier League, he was reportedly the subject of bids from top clubs around England before he was asked to stay put at Southampton.

Netherlands v Czech Republic - UEFA EURO 2016 Qualifier
Virgil van Dijk's Netherlands didn't even reach the playoffs

In the midst of his career stalling, his international career also saw a new low when Netherlands failed to qualify for the World Cup. The Dutch didn't even finish in the top two in their group as France and Sweden eventually qualified.

The Oranje's spectacular failure will see Van Dijk have a summer off with enough time for the 26-year-old to consider his future.

Honourable mentions: Andrea Barzagli (Italy) and Eric Bailly (Ivory Coast)

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Edited by Rohith Nair