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The FIFA World Cup 2018 is less than ten days away. Pumped up? You should be.
All of the teams have revealed their 23 man squads, but the eleven players who will take the field in Russia is far from clear for many teams. Due to injuries, form and tactical reasons managers are still tinkering with their lineups.
In most cases, each team's star men will be on the teamsheet. But certain teams like France and Brazil possess ridiculous depth which can validate the manager's decision to drop a top player.
Despite being one of the most notable names in world football, some players could find themselves warming the bench in Russia. Here are five such names.
#5 Paulo Dybala (Argentina)
Argentina is blessed with so many talented forwards that Mauro Icardi who was the joint top-scorer in the Serie A is not even in the 23 man squad.
Dybala's place was in considerable doubt as well as coach Jorge Sampaoli has given him the cold shoulder on numerous occasions.
He did make the squad, but the likes of Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain, Serio Aguero and even Manuel Lanzini are ahead of the Juventus man in the pecking order.
Dybala's last appearance for his country was way back when in September 2017 and he has been watching from the sidelines ever since.
The Juventus has been lighting up the Serie A and has guided Juve to the league title in the past three seasons.
Unfortunately for him, his preferred position is the one which Messi occupies and perhaps Sampaoli doubts his defensive abilities to deploy him as an orthodox winger.
The 24-year-old will most probably have to settle for a place on the bench in Russia. Just remember that when he scores the winner in the final, you saw it here first.
#4 Roberto Firmino (Brazil)
Roberto Firmino has been a revelation this season at Liverpool, taking his game up another notch. He has perfected the role of a 'false nine', as his side reached the Champions League final due to their bewitching attack.
However, Brazil coach Tite prefers Gabriel Jesus over Firmino. Jesus had a successful season with Manchester City but he was the second choice to Sergio Aguero there.
Arguably Firmino is a better option than Jesus due to his work rate and ability to drop deep and instigate attacks.
However, the trio of Jesus, Neymar, and Philippe Coutinho have developed chemistry in a successful qualifying campaign, something which Tite clearly values.
Jesus started in the recent friendly over Croatia, but as Firmino showed in the same match, he can definitely attempt to sway Tite's mind. There's nothing like some healthy competition, is it?
#3 Sergio Aguero (Argentina)
Sergio Aguero is another player who has to suffer due to his side's attacking riches. Gonzalo Higuain is Sampaoli's first-choice striker and Aguero has had to be content with substitute cameos.
Higuain is better at the hold-up play and does not dominate the ball much, something which plays into talisman Messi's hands. Aguero is no slouch either, a deadly finisher who always seems to be in the right place.
The Manchester City man has also been injured often which has seen Higuain cement his place. However, Higuain's own record at major competitions is suspect, to say the least, as he has missed a couple of golden opportunities in three major finals.
Aguero is certainly effective as a substitute and he will hope that he can display his qualities from the first whistle.
#2 Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (Germany)
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen had a brilliant season with Barcelona, and he is now undoubtedly among the very best at his position in the world. However, veteran teammate Manuel Neuer has regained full fitness which is bad news for any other German shot-stopper.
Germany coach Joachim Low said recently that Neuer will be first-choice if he is fit and now the signs are ominous. Neuer played the full match against Austria recently and the German skipper looked sharp despite his side's loss.
Ter Stegen is just the kind of goalkeeper Low loves, an intelligent keeper who is good on the ball. However, Neuer's experience and past exploits always meant that he would be favoured.
It could be said that Ter Stegen did all that he could do, but still, he will watch from the sidelines in Russia. Ah, there's always next time.
#1 Nabil Fekir (France)
France possesses an array of attacking talents and truthfully only Antoine Griezmann's place is completely secure.
Nabil Fekir faces competition from the likes of Olivier Giroud, Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, Florian Thauvin and Thomas Lemar.
Fekir had an excellent club season at Lyon, amassing 23 goals and nine assists as he led his side to third in Ligue 1. However, his impact will be curtailed for the Les Blues in Russia.
He has made only one appearance in 2018 for France which came in the recent friendly against Ireland.
Coach Didier Deschamps can use him as an impact substitute, but a starting spot seems off limits for now as Dembele, Giroud, and Mbappe are arguably ahead in the pecking order.
Do you think these players actually deserve to be in the starting XI's for their respective sides? Sound off in the comments section below!
