Gareth Bale
His 85 million pound transfer fee may have made him the most expensive football player in the world right now, but Real Madrid star Gareth Bale will not be able to put his talents on display when Brazil plays host to the World Cup next year.
Bale’s national side Wales are currently rock bottom in group A and have absolutely no chance of making it through. Gareth Bale started from the bench as his side suffered a 3-0 mauling at the hands of Serbia another team fighting to gain a World Cup 2014 berth. The former Tottenham man has however been his side’s most prolific player scoring four goals for the Dragons in the course of the World Cup Qualification campaign.
Petr Cech
One of the very few goalkeepers to have denied Messi every time he has played against him, Czech international Petr Cech who has made the Chelsea number one spot his own for the past nine years now is in danger of missing out on the World Cup next year.
Czech Republic’s hopes of a World Cup berth now depends on the performances of Denmark and Bulgaria who lead them by three and four points respectively, but it is obvious that Petr Cech’s side are more or less out of contention.
Marek Hamsik
The 26 year old who is one of the most consistent players at Napoli is set to miss out on the most illustrious football event. Hamsik has been the driving force behind much of the success his club has achieved in recent years, but unfortunately for Slovakia he could not translate his club form and failed to inspire his side to a qualification to the World Cup.
Hamsik scored in Slovakia’s last outing against Bosnia-Herzegovina, but second half goals from Ermin Bicakcic and Izet Hajrovic sealed Slovakia’s fate who have only once appeared in a World Cup competition after Czechoslovakia’s dissolution in 1993.
Robert Lewandowski
The Polish international who pulled off the shock of the season by scoring four goals against Real Madrid in a single match in the first leg of the Champions League Semi-Final last season is another player in danger of missing out on a World Cup 2014 berth.
Poland are currently fourth in Group H trailing Ukraine and Montenegro by two points and England by three. Biało-czerwoni now need a miracle to guide them to a World Cup 2014 berth for that to be made possible Robert Lewandowski who has been unimpressive so far, scoring only thrice in seven appearances in World cup Qualification matches, will have to be in top form.
Branislav Ivanovic
The Chelsea man has reached lofty heights at club level and his antics have made him one of the finest defenders in the Premier League. However much for his brilliance the Serbian captain will not be able to lead his team to the World Cup to be played in Brazil next year.
Serbia are currently third in Group A, six points behind Croatia having played a game more than Igor Štimac side. This implies that it will be impossible for Serbia to even qualify for a play-off.
