World Cup 2014: Surplus to Requirements XI

The likes of Gareth Barry and Carlos Tevez were not included in their national squads for Brazil but are eligible for this team

As ever in the selection of World Cup squads, there are excellent players whose presence, for one reason or another, is deemed unsuitable – whether for reasons of form, fitness or face. And with several squads not yet finalised, waiting to be pruned from 30 to 23, for some there awaits disappointment yet more crushing – not only will they miss out on a trip to Brazil but are also ineligible for the Guardian’s Surplus to Requirements XI:

Diego López

Initially a beneficiary of José Mourinho’s appetite for a fight, Diego López has retained his spot in the Real Madrid goal, even under Carlo Ancelotti. But at international level, Iker Casillas, the man he superseded, remains Vicente del Bosque’s preference, and with Pepe Reina and David De Gea also available his omission barely weakens the squad, while allowing its captain the security of certainty,
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Rafael da Silva

A player of undoubted attitude and ability, the Brazilian had finally harnessed both – last season, his performances were notable solely for their consistent excellence. But, following the arrival of a manager who clearly did not rate him, his confidence and performances plummeted.

John Mensah

Though past his best, it was nonetheless surprising when Mensah – a former Black Stars captain – was dropped by Ghana manager, Kwesi Appiah. He was not expected to start games, but his leadership and calmness would have been useful, given a youthful squad and taxing group.

Miranda

Despite playing a crucial role at Atlético Madrid, in one of Europe’s strongest and best-organised defences, Miranda was ignored by Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. More peculiarly still, alongside Thiago Silva will be either David Luiz or Dante, neither of whom is remotely as reliable.
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Ashley Cole

Competing against England in the group stages are three pacy and inventive attacking sides – but, nonetheless, the ability to cross and take free-kicks has been deemed of greater value than fast running and resourceful defending. As such, Leighton Baines, aged 29 and with 0 champions league games to his credit, has been preferred to Ashley Cole as first choice, with Luke Shaw a sensible choice as back-up. The right-wingers of Costa Rica, Italy and Uruguay are unlikely to experience much in the way of trepidation.
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Gareth Barry

Perennially underrated and underappreciated, Barry has enjoyed an excellent season for Everton – one far better than that of Frank Lampard at Chelsea and Michael Carrick at Manchester United, both of whom have been selected ahead of him. A perceptive passer with the ability to shoot from distance, Barry has the rare ability to elevate the players around him and is perhaps better suited to his position than Steven Gerrard, the man who will fill it for England in Brazil.
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Ander Herrera

Another influential season for Athletic Bilbao was not sufficient to earn Herera a holiday in Brazil. Such is the strength of Spanish football – despite its lack of a St George’s Park facility with underwater treadmills – that the exclusion of exceptional talents for the Spanish national team is inevitable but, even so, Herera is unfortunate to miss out.
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Samir Nasri

Didier Deschamps’ exclusion of Samir Nasri from his France squad left the world in the rather uncomfortable position of deeming the tweets of a footballer’s girlfriend to be news. But, Anara Atanes – that’s the Anara Atanes – was not at all happy. And it is unlikely that Nasri was either, given his excellent season for Manchester City, one in which he has made a significant improvement in both manner and performance. But Deschamps remained unimpressed by his performances at international level and, not considering him a likely starter, felt unable to rely on his goodwill and co-operation as a reserve.
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Isco

A player so good that his arrival precipitated the sale of Mesut Özil, Isco’s season at Madrid has been mixed. He began well but the form of Luka Modric and Ángel di María gradually nudged him out of the reckoning and, given Spain’s humiliation of playmaking riches, his omission was not the shock it might once have been.

Iker Muniaín

Yet another imaginative, improvisational Spaniard, Muniaín is also fast and adroit. And his form this season has been excellent, along with that of Herrera, a significant factor in Bilbao’s champions league qualification. But, such is the competition, he has been awarded only one international cap and although would he would probably be an automatic choice in every other squad, was never going to make Spain’s.

Carlos Tevez

Despite Brazil’s relative proximity to his daughter in Argentina, there was no place for Tevez in Alejandro Sabella’s World Cup squad. It is true that he can call upon Sergio Agüero, Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuaín and Ezequiel Lavezzi but the presence in the provisional list of Rodrigo Palacio and, in particular, Franco Di Santo, remains strange.
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Subs

John Ruddy

Despite playing for Norwich – a relegated side that conceded 62 league goals – Ruddy also kept 12 clean sheets and has been named in every single England squad since the European Championship. But Fraser Forster and Ben Foster – who has previously retired from international football, offended by his lack of unearned opportunities – were selected to be Joe Hart’s deputies. Ruddy was particularly disappointed by the failure of nepotism upon which he had relied: Dave Watson, England’s goalkeeping coach, is also Norwich’s. “I’ve only worked with Dave for the last two years and now I’m not in the World Cup squad. It doesn’t sit very well,” he said.

Filipe Luís

Another player who has had an exceptional season with Atlético Madrid – and another likely to be plundered by plutocrats too impatient to develop their own talent. But competition at left-back is tough and while he is arguably a superior defender to both Maxwell and Marcelo, he is not as effective going forward.
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Marc Bartra

Rated very highly at Barcelona, Bartra has made 25 appearances this season, most recently seizing the chance afforded him by an injury to Gerard Piqué and scoring against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final. Given Spain’s relative weakness at centre-back and the likelihood of his soon becoming a regular, Vicente del Bosque could have done worse than find him a space.
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Asier Illarramendi

Yet to make his international debut, Illarramendi is the most expensive Spaniard ever purchased by Real Madrid. Strong in the tackle and adept at anticipating danger, the defensive midfielder is also a clever passer and mover, able to relieve pressure and start attacks.
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Javier Pastore

A sublime talent, Pastore has yet to find an accompanying consistency. Although his season with Paris Saint-Germain was punctuated by brilliance beyond the reach of most others, it was largely disappointing, and as such, insufficient to earn him a place in the Argentina squad.
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Mario Gómez

Despite damaging knee ligaments in March, Gómez’s exclusion from Germany’s provisional squad was surprising. He has resumed training and, given its dearth of strikers – a deficiency already exposed in this season’s Champions League – that Joachim Löw could find no role for him, even as a substitute, may prove to be an error.

By The Guardian