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The Premier League season has seen its fair share of thrills and spills this season but we were in for more this summer. The recent announcements of various FIFA World Cup squads have affected players and fans of major English clubs.
We take a look at one player from each of the big six from the Premier League that will be missing out on the World Cup in Russia in June.
#6 Arsenal: Alexandre Lacazette
Alexandre Lacazette has missed out on a place in France's national team squad for the World Cup. Didier Deschamps has excluded him based on his inconsistent form this season. Lacazette will be gutted with the decision but will have only himself to blame.
He has made 16 appearances for France and scored only 3 goals during his international career so far. While it's not a great tally and whether it played a role in the manager's decision will not matter as the player will not be headed to Russia despite playing a part in the qualifiers.
The likes of Kylian Mbappé, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Nabil Fékir, and Florian Thauvin were selected ahead of the Lacazette in the squad and they have all had better seasons than the Gunners frontman.
A talented player, Lacazette has to improve his seasonal form to earn his place in the future.
#5 Chelsea: Tiémoué Bakayoko
Tiémoué Bakayoko enjoyed a fantastic season with Monaco last year that won Ligue 1 and it earned him a call-up to the senior team in early 2017 followed by a summer move to Chelsea.
Deschamps was clearly impressed by the midfielder and considered the player a real contender for a place in the team. After his move to Chelsea, many expected him to form a prolific partnership with his compatriot N’Golo Kante which would also boost his chances of starting for France alongside Kante.
However, the player struggled to keep fully fit and cement his place in the Blues starting eleven. Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kanté, Corentin Tolisso, Blaise Matuidi, and Steven N’Zonzi have pipped Bakayoko to a spot in France's midfield.
Bakayoko has struggled massively since his move to Chelsea and found the Premier League hard to adapt to in his first season. Only 23, Bakayoko has only shown glimpses of improvement since his return from a niggling injury to the team and it was not enough to earn himself a place in the squad.
#4 Tottenham Hotspur: Moussa Sissoko
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Moussa Sissoko has been transitioned into a central midfielder from a winger under Mauricio Pochettino but the Frenchman has struggled to keep his place in the team since Moussa Dembele's return from injury.
A versatile player, Sissoko is also used on the flanks at times but has not impacted or influenced play enough to secure his spot in the main eleven at Spurs.
Notably, Sissoko played in the Euro 2016 final alongside Matuidi and Pogba as France lost 1-0 to Portugal in the final.
Sissoko has not been selected by Deschamps this time out due to his inconsistency at club level. With the likes of Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kanté, Corentin Tolisso and Steven N’Zonzi, Deschamps is well equipped with central midfielders.
The 28-year-old has just the solitary goal and an assist to his name to show for his performances this season and Deschamps has picked players who have been in stunning form for their respective clubs.
#3 Liverpool: Emre Can
Liverpool midfielder Emre Can has been left out of the German squad by manager Joachim Low for the World Cup this year. Since his move to Liverpool in 2014, he has worked hard, improved well and has cemented his place in Liverpool's lineup.
However, injury has hampered the player's progress this season along with stiff competition for places. He had scored 6 goals and made 5 assists before injury wrecked his good form and caused him to miss the out on a place in the team.
In the final year of his contract with the club, Can is likely to move away from Anfield in the summer. With quality players like Leon Goretzka, Ilkay Gundogan, Sami Khedira, and Toni Kroos in the middle of the park, Can was deemed surplus to requirements.
His injury has also ruled himself out of contention not only for the World Cup but the Champions League final as well. And Low has selected a fit bunch of players raring to defend their title - a feat achieved only by Brazil in 1962.
#2 Manchester United: Anthony Martial
Anthony Martial has not been included in France's World Cup squad for Russia. The Manchester United player has not been consistently playing for his club under Jose Mourinho and he has paid the price.
The Frenchman has been overlooked by Didier Deschamps and will be gutted on missing out on a spot. Martial has struggled to make an impact in a number of games and has been poor this season.
In the first half of the season, he started well but faded as the season progressed. Despite Martial's absence, France still have a star-studded attacking force in Kylian Mbappé, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Nabil Fékir, and the pulsating Florian Thauvin.
While it is a hard decision for the player, it will be an experience he will learn from. The 22-year-old still has time on his side to represent his country in the future.
#1 Manchester City: Aymeric Laporte
French defender Aymeric Laporte has been one of the most in-form central defenders in the last three seasons. In January, he earned a move to Manchester City and joined the team that claimed the Premier League trophy.
A ball-playing, strong central defender, Laporte is a composed player on and off the ball. Signed from Athletic Bilbao, Laporte is a French-Basque player who will be a mainstay in City's defence for years to come.
With hardly any international experience Laporte was not picked and, with the likes of Benjamin Pavard, Raphaël Varane, Presnel Kimpembe, Adil Rami and Samuel Umtiti, the French look solid at the back.
He will have to wait another four years to feature in the tournament. Despite featuring consistently in the first half of the season and getting some game-time at City, Deschamps has deemed the player not up to the mark to make the squad.
